The governing New Patriotic Party Accuses NDC For Making Baseless Allegations.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed strong criticism toward the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the latter’s recent claims of discrepancies in the 2024 provisional voter’s register. The NPP has accused the NDC of making baseless allegations without providing substantive evidence, continuing a trend they argue is characteristic of the opposition party’s behavior in electoral matters.

In a press briefing on Thursday, September 19, 2024, the NPP responded to the NDC’s allegations, particularly those made during the opposition’s nationwide protests against the Electoral Commission (EC). The NPP emphasized that these demonstrations would have been justified only if the NDC had provided the EC with the necessary evidence to support their claims of voter register discrepancies. According to the NPP, the absence of such evidence from the NDC undermines the credibility of their accusations and calls into question their motives.

Allegations of Discrepancies and Missing Evidence

At the heart of the issue are allegations from the NDC regarding significant discrepancies in the voter registration process, including claims of illegal voter transfers and the deletion of names from the register. Specifically, the NDC has claimed that they have uncovered evidence of 243,540 illegal transfers, 3,957 deleted voter names, and over 15,000 unidentified voter transfer paths in the provisional register.

However, the NPP has pointed out that despite meeting with the Electoral Commission on September 6, 2024, and making these allegations public, the NDC has yet to provide the Commission with any concrete documentation to back up their claims. According to the NPP, this lack of evidence undermines the NDC’s case and raises questions about the opposition party’s motivations.

Also read: Sammy Gyamfi Accuses NPP of Benefiting from Voter Registration Issues, Calls for Forensic Audit

“For instance, on page 2 of their petition to the EC, the NDC stated emphatically that they have uncovered evidence of Two Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty (243,540) illegal transfers, Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Seven (3,957) deleted names of voters, as well as over Fifteen Thousand unidentified voter transfer paths in the provisional register. Yet, thirteen days after the NDC first met the EC on September 6, 2024, they have still not provided a single document to authenticate any of these allegations,” the NPP stated.

The ruling party went on to challenge the NDC to present their evidence to the EC or withdraw their claims entirely, questioning why, if the alleged irregularities were real, the NDC had not taken the necessary steps to have the issues addressed.

NPP’s Criticism of NDC’s Past Behavior

The NPP’s press conference also brought up the NDC’s previous behavior in the wake of the 2020 general elections. According to the NPP, the NDC’s current actions are part of a broader strategy of making unsubstantiated claims to gain public sympathy. The NPP cited the NDC’s actions after the 2020 election, when the opposition declared its candidate, former President John Dramani Mahama, as the winner before later alleging electoral fraud when the official results were announced, declaring Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the winner.

“Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, it is obvious that we have allowed the NDC to get away with so many lies and deceptions. Lies that nearly tarnished our enviable democratic credentials in 2020 and in some instances, threatened the peace and security of our dear republic,” the NPP stated, referencing the tensions that followed the 2020 election.

The governing party expressed concern that the NDC’s ongoing claims about the voter registration process could have a similar effect, potentially undermining trust in the electoral process and creating unnecessary tensions ahead of the 2024 elections.

Calls for Public Caution

In addition to addressing the specific claims regarding the voter’s register, the NPP urged the public to be cautious about accepting the NDC’s narrative. According to the NPP, the NDC’s strategy is to create a false perception that they are being unfairly treated by the EC, a state-controlled electoral body. The governing party argued that this approach is part of the NDC’s long-standing tactics to shift the narrative in their favor during election seasons, often without evidence to support their claims.

The NPP called on the NDC to submit whatever evidence they have to both the EC and the general public for scrutiny, rather than continuing to make unsubstantiated allegations. In doing so, they hope to prevent further erosion of trust in the electoral process.

Conclusion

The ongoing debate between the NPP and NDC over the integrity of the voter registration process is set to be a critical issue as Ghana heads toward the 2024 elections. While the NDC maintains that irregularities in the voter register must be addressed to ensure a free and fair election, the NPP insists that these claims lack evidence and are part of a broader strategy by the opposition to manipulate public perception.

With both parties entrenched in their positions, the call for a forensic audit of the voter’s register remains a contentious topic. Whether the NDC will provide the necessary evidence to substantiate their claims or whether the issue will escalate as the election draws nearer is yet to be seen. However, what is clear is that the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process is likely to remain a key battleground in the coming months, with both parties keen to ensure that the public views the system as fair and transparent.