Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is set to hold nationwide demonstrations dubbed “Enough is Enough” on Tuesday, 17 September, over alleged irregularities in the voter register ahead of the crucial December 2024 elections.
The protests come as the Electoral Commission (EC) faces mounting pressure to conduct a forensic audit of the register. The NDC has instructed supporters to march to regional EC offices across the country, where they will submit petitions calling for a thorough examination of the electoral roll. The party hopes this show of public dissatisfaction will force the EC to reconsider its position and agree to a comprehensive audit.
At the heart of the controversy are claims by the NDC of illegal transfers of thousands of names between constituencies, an issue the EC has reportedly acknowledged. Benjamin Bano-Bioh, Director of Electoral Services at the EC, admitted on television that the absence of “liveliness checks” in the commission’s system had led to irregularities, including illegal voter transfers in the Pusiga Constituency.
The opposition alleges these irregularities are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that could significantly impact the election outcome. They argue that illegal transfers could artificially inflate support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in key constituencies, potentially swinging close races in their favour.
Of particular concern to the NDC is the concentration of these alleged irregularities in swing regions and historically contested constituencies. The party fears that even small manipulations in these areas could have outsized effects on the final results.
Despite implementing four different approaches to detect and correct errors, the EC appears reluctant to agree to the opposition’s demand for a forensic audit. This stance has led to accusations that the commission may be complicit in or willfully ignoring attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
The controversy has raised questions about the EC’s preparedness and impartiality. Critics argue that the commission’s reluctance to address these concerns head-on could erode public trust and potentially lead to disputed results.
International observers are closely monitoring the situation, recognising the importance of Ghana’s elections as a bellwether for democratic stability in the region.
This scrutiny intensified after John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s 2024 presidential candidate and former president, revealed he met with US Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer to discuss the party’s concerns about the electoral roll.
The NDC sees the upcoming polls as a prime opportunity to oust the ruling NPP, now led by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. However, they fear that without a clean and accurate voter register, their chances of victory could be unfairly diminished.
As the protests approach, both the NDC and civil society organisations are calling for transparency and accountability from the Electoral Commission. They argue that only a thorough, independent audit can restore confidence in the electoral process and ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is accurately reflected in December 2024.
The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for the perceived legitimacy of the elections and, by extension, Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa.
