The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has urged former President John Dramani Mahama to bring the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the negotiation table to address concerns over alleged discrepancies in the provisional voters register.

The EC emphasised that dialogue, rather than street protests, is the most effective way to resolve the party's issues and ensure a credible electoral process.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 12 September 2024, Deputy Chairman of Operations, Samuel Tettey, made a direct appeal to Mr. Mahama, stating: “The EC believes that the best way to ascertain the credibility and integrity of the 2024 Voters Register is at the discussion table, not on the streets. Taking to the streets will not ensure a credible register; it will only cause tensions and suspicions which are unwarranted.”

Mr. Tettey therefore called on “the former President, His Excellency John Mahama, an eminent and respected statesman of the Republic, to encourage and bring his party to the table… On our part, we assure the NDC of a transparent process that would demonstrate to them that all their concerns have been resolved.”

The EC's appeal for dialogue follows its frustration over the NDC’s failure to provide evidence of the alleged discrepancies it claims to have found during the recent exhibition exercise. Despite a meeting on September 6, 2024, where the NDC raised five issues, the party has yet to submit the promised documentation to the EC, prompting repeated but unanswered requests from the Commission.

Meanwhile, the NDC has announced a nationwide demonstration scheduled for Tuesday, 17 September 2024 accusing the EC of rejecting its demand for a forensic audit of the voters register. The EC, however, dismissed claims that 50,000 ghost names were added to the register, asserting that any names of deceased persons will be removed once the necessary information is provided by the NDC.

“The Commission is fully committed to providing the country and all Political Parties with a robust and credible Voters Register that will guarantee free, fair, transparent, and credible General Elections in December 2024,” the EC reassured the public.