As the countdown to the December 7, 2024 elections intensifies, tensions between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are reaching a boiling point.

The NDC through its Director of Elections and IT, Dr Edward Omane Boamah has launched sharp criticism of what it calls the NPP’s “failed strategy” to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections in a statement dated October 22 posted on his Facebook wall.

He said the NPP's alleged plan, as laid out by the NDC, revolves around:

Compromising the Electoral Commission (EC) and other key institutions, Manipulating the voters' register to disenfranchise select groups of voters, though the NDC’s “Eagle Eyes” claim to have foiled these attempts, Ensuring the EC declares victory for the NPP regardless of the actual results on December 7, and Challenging the NDC to take any grievances to court.

However, former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC's flagbearer, has firmly stated that his party has no intention of taking the battle to court after the elections, saying “Tofiakwa!”—a popular Ghanaian expression denoting refusal.

The NDC insists it will remain vigilant and take decisive action on election day and beyond.

He outlined the NDC's counter-strategy 

The NDC, proclaiming itself "wide awake" and ready for any electoral tricks, has highlighted several key victories:

Exposure of the Electoral Commission's errors: The party has successfully pressured the EC into admitting to deliberate mistakes in the voters' register.

This led to the unprecedented re-exhibition of the register, allowing voters to check their details without incurring any costs.

Demanding a multi-stakeholder audit of the EC's IT system: The NDC has been adamant that a thorough review of the EC’s systems must be conducted to prevent future irregularities and expose those within the EC who may have disrupted the voters' register.

Sealing electoral loopholes: The party believes that this audit will prevent further manipulation of the voting process and ensure a free and fair election, thus safeguarding Ghana’s democracy.

The Role of Parliament

In light of the growing tension, all eyes are now on Parliament, which the NDC believes has a critical role in shaping the nation’s response to potential court rulings regarding the elections.

With heightened security measures in place, the political showdown is set to unfold not just in Parliament, but across the country.

As the NPP and NDC gear up for a high-stakes election, the NDC is sending a clear message that it will be vigilant, organized, and ready to act in real-time to prevent any subversion of the democratic process.

Let the 'show' begin, he concluded.