The Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Prof Alidu Seidu says the request by the National Democratic Congress for a forensic audit of the voter's register is timely.

According to him, the EC could dispel doubts about the fairness and accuracy of the voter register by conducting such an audit.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on September 17, he said “I think it is in the best interest of the EC to conduct the forensic audit of the voter's register. When people are saying you are not fair or the processes are not fair and the register is not accurate, why don’t you just prove them wrong? Why can’t you just let the process go on?”

“If the NDC identified challenges in the register and calls for a complete audit, I think the process is timely and should be done now rather than later.”

• Read also: NDC alleges ‘defective’ voters register; calls for forensic audit and parliamentary probe

The call for a foreign audit comes after the NDC said it uncovered a number of anomalies with the latest attempt by the EC to update the voters' register. Among the issues, the NDC says it uncovered mass unauthorised vote transfers.

It also follows a notable decline in public trust towards the EC, courts, and police, as noted in the latest Afrobarometer survey.

The data, collected from 1999 to 2022, reveals a concerning decline in public confidence in these crucial institutions.

The EC, which once enjoyed a trust level of 75% in 2005, now commands the trust of only 33% of Ghanaians. This marks a sharp drop from its initial 63% trust rating in 1999.

Prof Seidu stated that if a political party doubts the reliability of the voters register, it would be prudent to conduct an audit.

“So if the Afrobarometer measures people’s opinions this way and a political party is saying that they are not very confident in the register we are going to use, why don’t you give them the benefit of the doubt and let the audit be done then you prove them wrong that everything is good.”

“If we begin to hold this position, it deepens the suspicion people have that the process is not going to be free and fair and the register is not as accurate as we think. Even in developed democracies, they allow for audits where it is necessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NDC is holding a nationwide demonstration today, September 17, against the Electoral Commission (EC).

The NDC accuses the EC of refusing to allow for a forensic audit of the voters' register ahead of the December elections, after it alleged several anomalies, including illegal but mass transfer of votes in many places.