Saturday, 28 September

Legal processes for PVR cleanup not fully exhausted – EC rejects NDC’s voter roll forensic audit demand

Politics
Jean Mensa, EC chair

The Electoral Commission (EC) has once again dismissed calls from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a forensic audit of the Provisional Voter’s Register (PVR).

The EC maintains that current legal and administrative procedures for addressing discrepancies have not been fully utilised.

In a letter to NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the EC responded to a petition submitted by the NDC after their September 17 demonstration, which demanded an audit of the PVR.

The EC stated: "As a Commission, we are of the view that the existing legal and administrative processes for cleaning the PVR have not been fully exhausted to justify the call for a forensic audit."

The Commission reassured both the NDC and the public that it is addressing the majority of discrepancies identified in the PVR, much like the process successfully implemented during the 2020 general elections, which will be repeated for the upcoming 2024 elections.

In a bid to foster transparency, the EC has extended an invitation to the NDC for a discussion, offering the opposition party a chance to witness the steps being taken to rectify any issues in the register firsthand.

The EC also addressed concerns over the illegal transfer of votes, revealing that its District Officer in Pusiga, Upper East Region, has been dismissed in connection with 38 illegal vote transfers, which have since been corrected.

As for the NDC’s call for a re-exhibition of the voter’s register, the EC stated that time constraints prevent a physical exhibition, but assured that an online version of the register will remain accessible to voters until election day.

The EC concluded by urging trust in the established processes and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible election in 2024.

 

 

 

Source: classfmonline.com