The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for an independent audit of the voters’ register.
According to the Deputy National Director of Elections for the NDC, Dr. Tanko Rashid-Computer, the party does not trust the Electoral Commission to carry out an internal audit devoid of bias.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on September 2, he said, “We are saying that we don’t trust investigations conducted by the current EC unless an external body performs a forensic audit of what they have just admitted because it is clear that you cannot do credit in absentia. This is what we have been saying all along.”
He explained that the very EC officers alleged to have engaged in illegal activities were staff of the commission who had undergone training.
In this regard, he stated that the NDC cannot trust the EC to handle the issue impartially.
“This electoral commission was doing illegal transfers. Their officers, what kind of training did they give them,” he added.
His concerns follow the EC revealing findings from an ongoing investigation into unauthorised voter transfers.
The initial reports confirm that transfers were indeed effected for 38 individuals using the credentials of an EC official.
According to the Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare these transfers were detected through audit logs in the Voter Management System (VMS), which showed that photos from voters’ ID cards were used for facial verification to complete the transfers.
But Dr. Computer also clarified that throughout the voters’ exhibition process, the party had raised concerns on countless occasions. However, the EC has repeatedly released statements asking the public to disregard those concerns.
On the back of this, He said “That is why I am saying that we can not trust the jugdement of this current electoral commission unless an external body audits them because these people have a lot to hide.
“Of course, you remember UNDP in 2012, NPP called for an audit of the register in 2012 and UNDP gave their support.
Source: myjoyonline.com