2024 Election: 'Not perfect, final' – EC acknowldges Voter Register issues

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has acknowledged that the current voter register is still a work in progress and should not be viewed as perfect or final, as efforts to update and refine it continue ahead of the 2024 general elections.

This statement came during an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Tuesday, October 1, where EC Chairperson Jean Mensa addressed growing concerns from political parties, civil society organisations, and the public regarding the accuracy of the voter roll.

With elections just around the corner, many stakeholders have raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.

Jean Mensa in her address at the IPAC Meeting reassured the public that the register is provisional and will undergo further corrections during the exhibition process.

“The current register is not perfect, and not final,” she stated, emphasising that this phase provides an opportunity for voters to raise claims and objections, ensuring that inaccuracies are addressed.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), one of the key opposition parties, had earlier called for a forensic audit of the voter register, citing alleged discrepancies.

In response, Madam Mensa said that while the EC acknowledges the NDC's concerns, their request for a forensic audit was premature.

She noted that the issues raised by the NDC are typical of any voter register at this stage and are precisely the kinds of problems the exhibition exercise is designed to address.

"The NDC presented five categories of issues with the register. The commission demanded further evidence from the NDC but assured them that such issues are typical of every voter’s register, and the exhibition exercise aims to unearth and fix them," Jean Mensa explained.

She added that the NDC has yet to provide any additional evidence to support their claims.

The EC Chairperson further stressed that the Commission is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the register’s accuracy while maintaining its independence and integrity.

"It is for these reasons that this IPAC meeting has been organised—to enable all parties to present any evidence on discrepancies in the voters register. All necessary steps will be taken to finalize the voter roll with accuracy and fairness,” she assured.