Parliament to Address Voter Register Concerns …Majority Leader Assures NDC

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has assured the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that Parliament will carefully consider the Party’s concerns regarding the voters’ register for the upcoming December 2024 elections.

This assurance came after Afenyo-Markin received a petition from the NDC during their nationwide protest on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

While addressing the demonstrators, Afenyo-Markin emphasized Parliament’s role in addressing electoral issues, encouraging all stakeholders to collaborate in resolving any genuine concerns.

“I agree with the Minority Leader that as a House, we have to look at the issues presented, and I encourage all stakeholders to also avail themselves. I believe that if there are genuine concerns, we can all raise them and discuss them at the table,” he said.

The NDC had petitioned Parliament over alleged discrepancies in the voters’ register and the Electoral Commission’s (EC) refusal to allow an independent forensic audit. According to the party, the current voters’ register contains numerous errors, which undermine confidence in the EC’s processes and compromise the transparency of the electoral system. As a result, the party is demanding a bi-partisan probe into the conduct of the EC and calling for an immediate publication of the forensic audit’s findings.

The NDC’s protest, dubbed “Enough Is Enough,” tookplace simultaneously in all sixteen regions across the country. Party executives, including grassroots supporters, have united to express their dissatisfaction with the EC’s refusal to audit the register.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, outlined the Party’s demands while presenting the petition to Parliament. The NDC, among its key demands has asked the EC to conduct another exhibition of the voters’ register. The Party insists the exhibition should last for a five-day period and should happen only after the forensic audit.

While the protest was generally peaceful in most regions, tensions escalated in Kumasi in Ashanti Region.

Demonstrators clashed with the police at the Kumasi office of the EC, leading to a tense situation where barricades were broken, and glass doors at the office were shattered. The Police confirmed that some demonstrators breached agreed protocols by forcing their way into the EC’s compound.

Amidst the chaos, there were reports of gunfire and injuries, with a policewoman reportedly hurt, and one individual arrested.

However, the Ghana Police Service, via an official statement, quickly denied any shooting incident and clarified that their officers did not fire on the demonstrators. The police stated that the demonstrators had been restrained after attempting to enter the compound by force, and the situation was brought under control.

Despite the disruptions in Kumasi, the NDC’s protest continued nationwide, with the party maintaining its stance that the voters’ register must be independently audited to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in December.

The Majority Leader’s assurance that Parliament will look into the NDC’s concerns offers a glimmer of hope for resolution through dialogue.