Photos of plants, animals captured as voters in 2016 voters register – EC admits

The Electoral Commission has acknowledged that the 2016 voter register had significant discrepancies, including photos of plants and animals listed as voters.
Responding to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), calls for an independent forensic audit into the 2024 voters register the Electoral Commission questioned why the NDC did not call for a forensic audit of the 2016 voter register when they were in power.
Addressing the media in Accra on Thursday, September 12, Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Samuel Tettey stated that this is the first time the NDC has shown interest in the voter register. Otherwise, one would have expected them to call for such an audit of the 2016 register, which contained photos of plants and animals representing voters
Mr. Tettey denied that the voters register has ever been independently audited since 1992. “It is important to note that, contrary to what is being alluded, since 1992, the voters register has never been audited.” Mr. Tetteh told the press.
Mr Tettey rejected calls for a forensic audit of the Provisional Voters Register, stating that Voters Register Exhibition Exercise is an effective and sufficient correcting discrepancy.
The NDC, in a meeting held on September 6, 2024, highlighted five specific issues with the Provisional Voters Register, and requested a forensic audit to address their concerns. They also requested a re-exhibition of the Register. However, the Electoral Commission has countered these demands by emphasizing that the current processes are adequate and well-established.
According to the Commission, the Exhibition Exercise is designed to uncover and rectify errors in the Register. They argue that this process, which has been in place since 1992, is robust and aligns with legal requirements outlined in the Constitutional Instrument on the Registration of Voters (C.I. 91 as amended by C.I. 126). The Commission has assured that discrepancies flagged during the Exhibition are being addressed promptly and thoroughly.
The Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations, Mr. Sammuel Tettey emphasized that the Voter Register Exhibition Exercise serves as an audit, allowing for the correction of discrepancies