Ghana’s opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) organized nationwide protests on Tuesday, addressing concerns over alleged discrepancies in the voter registry. They demanded an independent forensic audit to ensure a transparent election process ahead of the December 7 vote to replace outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The NDC accused the electoral commission of unlawfully moving voters to different polling stations without their consent, potentially undermining the register’s credibility.
Thousands of protesters, dressed in red and black, marched through Accra, urging international and local bodies to step in.
In Accra, protest leaders submitted petitions to parliament and the electoral commission. Demonstrations occurred in all 15 other regions of Ghana, according to local reports.
One protester, Kwame Acheampong, 68, expressed frustration, explaining that his registration was moved from the capital to Tamale, a city in the north.
“How can I go to Tamale to vote?” he said. The electoral commission stated that the identified errors have since been rectified.
A district director in Pusiga was suspended in August for allegedly transferring voters without their knowledge.
Despite Ghana being one of Africa’s most stable democracies, the previous election witnessed violence, resulting in eight deaths and opposition claims that the government unfairly influenced the outcome, which it denied.
These accusations have tarnished the reputation of the electoral authority. According to a July survey by Afrobarometer, public trust in Ghana’s electoral commission has reached a historic low.
NDC chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia emphasized the need for “transparent elections,” warning of potential conflict if issues aren’t addressed.
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