Stanley Agbozo Exposes Electoral Commission Shortcomings and Potential Voter Disenfranchisement

Stanley Agbozo, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Volta Regional Communication Team, has disclosed alarming findings regarding the operations of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the December 7 elections. In a statement released based on an investigation conducted by the NDC, he pointed to serious procedural shortcomings that could potentially disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters.

Agbozo highlighted the vital role the EC plays in Ghana’s democracy, stating that the Commission is responsible for ensuring transparent, free, and fair elections. However, he raised concerns over its inefficiencies, which have been brought to the fore by the NDC’s audit of the 2024 Provisional Voters Register (PVR). According to the findings, numerous discrepancies threaten to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

One of the most significant concerns is the issue of illegally added voter transfers. Agbozo revealed that over 243,000 voter transfers from 2023 were duplicated in the 2024 register, suggesting deliberate manipulation of voter data. This manipulation raises questions about whether these duplicated transfers were intended to inflate numbers in key constituencies.

Additionally, Agbozo pointed to missing voters in the 2024 PVR. Around 3,957 voters who appeared in the 2023 Final Voter Register were inexplicably excluded from the 2024 register. This, according to Agbozo, is a clear sign of disenfranchisement, as these voters may lose their right to vote due to administrative errors or deliberate actions.

Another troubling finding was the presence of untraceable voters. Over 15,000 individuals were registered in the 2024 PVR without any legitimate polling station affiliation. These “ghost voters” pose a threat to the integrity of the election, as their presence could be used to skew results in favor of a particular political party.

Agbozo also disclosed issues with unrecorded transfers, where approximately 2,094 voters were transferred to new polling stations, but their details were not updated in the EC’s database. This could lead to confusion on election day, with voters being unable to cast their ballots in the correct locations, further contributing to potential disenfranchisement.

Corrupted electronic files in the PVR, where essential voter information such as names and photos were missing or incomplete, were also highlighted as a systemic failure by the EC. Agbozo stressed that these shortcomings point to a broader issue within the EC’s data management system and called for immediate reforms.

In his conclusion, Stanley Agbozo called on the EC to address these discrepancies swiftly to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. He urged the EC to collaborate with political stakeholders and conduct a thorough forensic audit of the voter register to restore public confidence. "These issues cannot be ignored, as they threaten the very fabric of our democracy," Agbozo warned.

With the elections fast approaching, the NDC continues to push for reforms that will safeguard the electoral process, ensuring transparency and fairness for all. Agbozo’s disclosure raises serious questions about the EC’s readiness and ability to manage one of the most critical elections in Ghana’s recent history.

NAME: STANLEY AGBOZO
CONTACT NUMBER: 0248654671
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]