Claims of discrepancies in voters register worrying, EC must act swiftly - CODEO

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has described claims of discrepancies in the provisional voters register issued by the Electoral Commission as worrying. 

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised discrepancy issues with the provisional voters register that was recently exhibited ahead of the 2024 elections, and has therefore demanded an urgent meeting with the Electoral Commission to address their concerns. 

A letter dated Tuesday, August 27, 2024, signed by NDC General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey and addressed to the Electoral Commission stated  that the NDC has detected "serious discrepancies" in the provisional voters register.  

The NDC therefore requested an "urgent" meeting with the EC to address the issues before the voter exhibition exercise concluded. 

The nationwide voter exhibition exercise started on August 20, and ended on August 27. 

“We write to request an important emergency meeting with you and your team to discuss very serious discrepancies discovered during the ongoing 2024 voter exhibition exercise. The discrepancies emanate from analysis of the Provisional Voter Register (PVR) given to us by the Commission, and registers being exhibited at the centres. 

“We anticipate a favourable and timely response as we work towards free, fair, and transparent elections,” the letter said. 

The National Coordinator of CODEO, Albert Arhin, in an interview on the issue with Starr News monitored by GhanaWeb, urged the EC to immediately address the concerns raised. 

He, however, said his outfit is unable to jump to any conclusions yet. 

"... It is disturbing; it is too early to jump to any conclusions yet because, to be honest with you, my observers who went to the field never sent any report about a discrepancy at any polling station. 

"We sent them there to observe and bring reports. What I am saying is that, yes, we went to the field, but we were not many. I think we sent fifty observers. If you are to compare that to the so many polling stations that were opened, it is really negligible. So, we cannot say that we had any knowledge about any discrepancies in the register. I cannot say that," Albert Arhin stated. 

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Hassan Ayariga is our guest on the latest edition of Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV with host, Etsey Atisu. Catch the full interview below: