Figures In Ashanti Region Voter’s Register Incredible – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) says figures in the alleged bloated voters’ register of the Ashanti Region are incredible and thorough investigations were needed to clear the discrepancies. “Provisional analysis of the figures revealed that between 2004 and 2006 the voter population of some of these constituencies doubled. This cannot happen…I don’t think we should concentrate our efforts in propounding conspiracy theories but rather we must all unite to find out how it happened,” Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the EC, said at the Greater Accra Region Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Accra. The regional IPAC meeting is on the theme: “Building Confidence in the Outcome of the 2008 Elections.” It is aimed at offering a platform for the political parties to have insight into the work of the EC and for explanations on any issues of concern. The meeting organized by the EC with support from Friedrich Ebert Foundation and KAB Governance Consult would discuss topics, including: In-built Integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process; Results and Challenges of the Replacement of Lost Voter ID Cards; Revision of the voters' Register - Challenges and Expectations; Expectations of the Commission from Political Parties Towards Credible Elections in December 2008. On the operations of the special Independent Investigative Committee set up to examine the discrepancies in the voters register, Dr Afari-Gyan explained the commission had initial problem with its formation. He said the Ghana Statistical Service, which was part of the original institution suggested to be part of the committee, declined to participate and this affected the inaugural timetable. The Independent Investigative Committee is to examine the discrepancies in electoral figures of about 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region. The EC on April 11, this year announced the establishment of a nine-member Independent Investigative Committee to analytically scrutinize the voters’ register to establish the legitimacy or otherwise, of the alleged bloated register in the Ashanti Region. The Committee is made up of two EC Officials, four representatives of the political parties and an official each from the West African Examinations Council, and the Bureau of National Investigations. The Committee had a two-week mandate from the day of inauguration to complete the task of delving into the NDC’s complaints of the bloated register. The Committee was also mandated to scrutinize the source of the discrepancies and how to prevent its occurrence and make the appropriate recommendations to the Commission. Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the NDC, expressed concern about the bloating of the voters’ register in 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region. He said the figures in the 13 constituencies were so outrageous that there was the need for proper investigations to set the records straight, adding that any political party that believed in democracy should find out why the register was bloated in the 13 constituencies. Professor Mills stated that the issue should not be the worry of the NDC alone but all the political parties in the country. The party claimed that they got information on the bloated figure from the EC on a CD Rom after writing officially to the Commission.