We are investigating how Ahiagbah voted in 2020 despite not being on the voter register – Jean Mensa tells parliament

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensa, has informed parliament that her outfit is actively investigating how the current Director of Communications for the ruling New Patriotic Party was allowed to vote in the 2020 general elections despite not having his name on the voter register.

Appearing before parliament on Friday, July 19, 2024, the commissioner said she hopes to announce the investigation's results before the upcoming election on December 7, 2024.

"With the issue of Richard Ahiagbah, it's an issue of major concern that he was not on the register but was able to vote in 2020. This is something that we are looking into, and we can assure you that in due course, we will come out with our findings and let you know.

"But it is a message that we take out and continue to take out that this sort of thing should not be countenanced at any polling station. We are looking into it, and I can assure you that before the election, we will give you an update on how that happened and how we can forestall that," she said.

Following an attempt by Mr. Ahiagbah to register for a voter card in May this year, he was accused of committing double registration or voting without a valid voter ID, as he had successfully voted in the 2020 general election.

Purported evidence of the alleged incident shared by the opposition National Democratic Congress showed that Ahiagbah voted in the 2020 election, albeit without his name printed on the voter roll.

A photo of the voter register used during the election also showed that an electoral official wrote Ahiagbah's details, including his supposed voter identification number, name, age, date of birth, and polling station code, at the bottom of the register with a pen before he proceeded to cast his vote.

Ahiagbah confirms voting without ID

The NPP Director of Communications later confirmed reports that he voted in the 2020 general elections even though his name was not in the voters' register.

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Neat FM on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Richard Ahiagbah stated that even though he had a valid voter identification card, which was issued to him after he completed his registration in 2020, his name was not in the register when he went to vote.

"I voted in the 2020 election. You have to ask officials of the EC why I was able to vote even though my name was not in the register.

"Because I have a voter's ID card which bears my name. I got it in 2020 when we were asked to register for a new voter's register. I have the card, and it has the polling station number where I have always been voting," he said in the Twi dialect.

He added, "I went to queue to vote on December 7, 2020, and when it got to my turn, the officials said my name was not on the register. So, I asked why my details were not on the register and showed them my documents."

The NPP communications director stated that the EC official on election day agreed that he should be allowed to vote. However, he does not know why they allowed him to vote even though his name was not on the voters' register.

He added that only officials of the EC can explain why he was allowed to vote even though his name was not in the 2020 electoral register.

GA/SEA