With only days remaining before the scheduled exhibition of the Provisional Voter Register (PVR), mounting concerns are being raised over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) lack of transparency and preparedness.
Mr. Ahmed M. Gedel, the Deputy Zongo Caucus Coordinator for NDC-USA, has sounded the alarm, accusing the EC of potentially compromising the credibility of the upcoming December 7th elections.
Political parties across the board are expressing frustration as they continue to wait for the release of the PVR.
This delay, according to him, sparked fears of incompetence and possible manipulation within the Commission. Despite repeated assurances, the former NDC Technical Advisor on Biometric and the party’s representative at IPAC and UNDP- Ghana said EC’s apparent lack of urgency and transparency is fueling suspicions regarding their commitment to a fair and credible electoral process.
As the exhibition exercise looms, he pointed out that the delayed release of the PVR has left political parties with insufficient time to thoroughly scrutinize the register. “This has raised concerns about the potential for errors, omissions, and even fraud to go unnoticed, which could have serious implications for the electoral process,” he added.
Compounding the issue is the EC’s track record of technical issues and what Mr. Gedel describes as a reluctance to seek external assistance.
In his write-up, the Deputy Zongo Caucus Coordinator, NDC-USA, recalled the unresolved theft of Biometric Voter Registration kits from the EC’s headquarters, which he said, further casts a shadow over the integrity of the process.
Mr. Gedel is urging civil society organizations, religious bodies, and diplomatic missions to take note of the situation and demand immediate action from the EC.
He stressed that the timely release of the Provisional Voter Register is crucial to ensuring the credibility and transparency of the election.
Failure to do so, he warns, could jeopardize the stability of Ghana’s democracy.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on the Electoral Commission to act decisively and restore confidence in the electoral process.
The former lecturer at Accra Technical University underscored that the coming days will be critical in determining whether the EC can meet these expectations and uphold the integrity of the December 7th elections.
