The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has intensified its calls for an independent audit of Ghana’s voters’ register, with Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, Chairman of the NDC’s Council of Elders in South Africa, becoming one of the forces leading the charge.
Mr. Benjamin Quashie insisted that an independent body, other than the Electoral Commission (EC), should conduct the audit to ensure transparency ahead of the December elections.
In an interview with Ghasa Radio in South Africa on Thursday, Mr. Quashie emphasized that the NDC’s concerns are rooted in a desire for a credible and transparent election process.
“We are not asking for anything unreasonable. If the Electoral Commission has nothing to hide, an independent audit should not be a problem. This is essential to build public trust and ensure that the EC is transparent in its dealings,” Mr. Quashie stated.
“We want elections that reflect the will of the Ghanaian people.” He asserted, “We want elections that would let everybody know that the processes were fair, transparent and good for everybody. Once the Electoral Commission plays to the tune of what peace is, the tune of what fair elections are, I don’t think the NDC has anything to do.”
The call for an audit stems from concerns about alleged irregularities in the voters’ register, which the NDC believes may negatively impact the electoral process. These irregularities include the presence of “ghost names” (names of deceased persons still on the register) and instances of voters’ names being moved between constituencies without their knowledge.
According to Mr. Quashie, these issues have been observed in both NDC strongholds like the Volta Region and other parts of the country, such as the Ashanti Region.
“For the first time, we are seeing proxy voting without verification. Dead people are still listed on the voters’ register. Why should this happen? The EC claims that the exhibition of the register is to address these issues, but these are problems we raised long ago,” he added.
“In one constituency in the Volta region. A community had a total voter population of 500, but during the exhibition, that community had 2000 voters. So when we say there are problems, these are things that have been categorized, numbered and given to the Electoral Commission. It’s not like NDC is just coming up with stories.”
“Our chairman has made it clear—we will defend the votes of every Ghanaian. We are not just going to sit back and allow the will of the people to be subverted. The EC needs to be held accountable, and we are prepared to do that at every step,” Mr. Quashie stated.
Demonstrations
Mr. Quashie warned that the NDC is prepared to take to the streets if the EC fails to address these concerns. He described the EC as “intransigent” and accused its officials of being partisan towards the NPP. According to Mr. Quashie, the NDC will not shy away from demonstrations or seeking international support to ensure that the elections are fair and free from manipulation.
“The Electoral Commission felt that the NDC was going to go to sleep and allow them to do the shoddy work that they did and allow them to avert the will of the people, and allow them to continue in this trajectory that they found themselves that they can be manipulators of election results for a particular person.”
He added, “The NDC will accept the results of a free, transparent, credible election. Okay. If the elections are free, if the elections are transparent, and if the elections are credible, we’ll be the first party to accept the result of the, the, the electoral commission in that elections.
“So that’s why we have said that let’s do everything right. , once we do everything right, I can assure you, I can tell you that the NDC will accept any outcome of the election. Okay? Just ensure, sir, you, we all respect the will of the people”
Meanwhile, the largest opposition party has gotten clearance from the police to stage a nationwide demonstration on September 17, 2024.
But the Electoral Commission has described the demand call by the National Democratic Congress for a forensic audit of the voter register as misguided and unnecessary.
“The Commission is of the view that such an audit will add no value whatsoever to the well-defined, tried, and tested process documented for the cleaning and strengthening of the provisional voters register.”
The NDC South Africa Council of Elders Chairman also reiterated that the party would not rely solely on the EC’s results declaration in the 2024 general elections, stating that they would conduct their own parallel collation of results to ensure accuracy.
“And the NDC is not going to the Supreme Court or any other court for that matter to go and settle any electoral disputes because we know that the Supreme Court will not do what they are supposed to do. So we have said, we are going to win these elections at the polling stations. We are going to win these elections when the Electoral Commission, before they collate, we would collate, we will not declare,” he said pointing to NPP’s former National Chairman Peter Mac Manu declaring elections result in the past ahead of the EC in the wake of a recent admonishment by President Akufo-Addo that only the EC can declare elections results.
“You see the hypocrisy that we find ourselves in as a country. For me, it’s nauseating, but I’m happy that now people are coming out to realize that the NPP does not think about any Ghanaian.
“The NPP does not think about the welfare of the Ghanaian people. The NPP only thinks about themselves. And I’m happy our former soccer captain Asamoah Gyan says that the NPP has nothing to offer. So he’s resigning from the party. That should let you know that there are people with conscience, there are people who still have to analyze the situation and see country first or money first.”
Changing Political Strategy
Reflecting on the broader political climate, Mr. Quashie noted that the NDC, under former President John Dramani Mahama, has shifted its campaign strategy to be more “people-centered.” He mentioned that the party had engaged various stakeholders, including market women, seamstresses, and Okada riders, in developing its manifesto, which he claimed made it more responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
“This time, our campaign is not about big rallies or shows. It’s about listening to the people. We consulted with stakeholders across the country, and that’s why our manifesto is regarded as one of the best—it reflects the real needs of the people,” Mr. Quashie explained.
24-Hour Economy Policy
Mr. Benjamin Quashie also touched on the party’s vision for a 24-hour economy, a policy aimed at reducing unemployment and revitalizing Ghana’s economy. He defended the policy against criticisms from the ruling New Patriotic Party, emphasizing its potential to transform the country.
“People misunderstood the 24-hour economy, thinking jobs would be lost. But it’s quite the opposite—this system ensures that three shifts create more employment opportunities. In other economies, it’s already working. Even in South Africa, banks are open at midnight. We need deliberate policies like this, along with tax incentives and security upgrades, to drive the policy forward,” Mr. Quashie argued.
“The policy is a game changer. Our friends in the NPP know that it’s a game changer. They’re just pretending as if they don’t know that that is the truth. But I can tell you, Ghanaians have taken this policy. And Ghanaians will not forgive the NDC, should we come to power and we don’t implement it to curb the surge of unemployment.”
Source: Newstitbits.com