The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says there is no need for an independent forensic audit of the 2024 provisional voter's register, as requested by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other stakeholders in the elections.

According to the NPP, the NDC's concerns about irregularities in the register are unnecessary, deceptive, and a deliberate attempt to create tension as the country gears toward the 2024 general elections in December.

Briefing the press on Thursday, September 19, the NPP expressed difficulty in understanding the NDC's call for an independent forensic audit, based on alleged errors and discrepancies.

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The party explained that the Constitutional Instrument on the Registration of Voters, C.I. 91, as amended by C.I. 127, already anticipates such errors and provides solutions for addressing them.

“For emphasis, C.I. 127 makes provision for the resolution of discrepancies such as the inclusion of omitted names, removal of names of deceased voters from the register, correction to wrong spelling of names, correction to wrong registration centre codes, replacement of poor quality Voter ID Cards, and also makes provision for the transfer of voters, special voters list and objection to names of unqualified voters on the register,” they said.

In light of this, the NPP stated that errors in the provisional register do not warrant an independent forensic audit, arguing that C.I. 127 provides a clear process for resolving the concerns raised.

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“A careful study of the petition submitted by the NDC to the EC vis-à-vis the provisions of C.I. 127, establishes one undisputed fact, there is no need for an Independent Forensic Audit of the provisional register as the existing electoral laws offer a clear pathway to resolving all concerns raised by the NDC,” they said.

The party also claimed that the NDC's complaints about the voter's register are part of a broader strategy to deceive the public and gain sympathy ahead of the polls.

They cautioned the public against the NDC’s "false narrative" of being cheated by a state-controlled electoral body and challenged the NDC to provide evidence of the alleged irregularities, discrepancies, and manipulation of the provisional register to both the Electoral Commission and the public.

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