African Electoral Institute (AEI) is urging the Electoral Commission (EC) to exercise diligence in collating and publishing data to prevent the dissemination of inaccurate and erroneous information during the ongoing Limited Voter Registration Exercise.
In a statement dated May 14, 2024, the AEI highlighted instances where the EC previously released incorrect figures from the Limited Voter Registration Exercise, which later had to be corrected.
“From African Electoral Institute’s (AEI) Research Desk, the number of registered voters for Day 2 was 19,267 registrants as has been published by the EC, however, the EC published the summation of all the regional figures as 25,287 instead of 19,267. Similarly, the number of voters registered on Day 3 was reported by the EC to be 48,616, instead of 43,417,” part of the statement read.
The AEI believes that the EC is a human institution and as such is prone to errors, therefore, the group advised the election organising body to ensure strict quality control and should not be in a hurry to announce figures.
“African Electoral Institute acknowledges the fact that the EC is a human institution and thereby admonishes the EC to be meticulous and diligent in the compilation of their figures. The EC may have to adopt strict quality control measures to prevent such blunders, because if it must be done, it must be done well.
“The African Electoral Institute believes that there is no need by the EC to be in such a hurry to publish figures as they are not in competition with any other institution to be the first to publish the collated registration results.
“Therefore, a few hours of delay to ensure that the collated figures are accurate will not hurt anyone and would go a long way in preventing avoidable mistakes and subsequent corrections, which impact negatively on the reputation of the Commission,” it added.
The Limited Voter Registration Exercise started on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, and will end on May 27, 2024.
Below is the full statement by the African Electoral Institute
PRESS RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
DATE: 14TH MAY,2024
AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI) IMPLORES THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION (EC) TO BE METICULOUS AND DILIGENT TO AVOID ERRONEOUS AND INACCURATE FIGURES TO THE PUBLIC
African Electoral Institute (AEI) beseech the Electoral Commission (EC) to be diligent and meticulous in its data collation and publication of same to the general public.
The AEI has cited figures that are statistically inaccurate from the EC and subsequently changed by the EC to reflect the accurate figures in the on-going Limited Voter Registration Exercise.
From African Electoral Institute’s (AEI) Research Desk, the number of registered voters for Day 2 was 19,267 registrants as has been published by the EC, however, the EC published the summation of all the regional figures as 25,287 instead of 19,267.
Similarly, the number of voters registered on Day 3 was reported by the EC to be 48,616, instead of 43,417.
The Institute has also observed the banter between the two major political parties on these changes of figures by the EC on major news media.
African Electoral Institute acknowledges the fact that the EC is a human institution and thereby admonishes the EC to be meticulous and diligent in the compilation of their figures. The EC may have to adopt strict quality control measures to prevent such blunders, because if it must be done, it must be done well.
The African Electoral Institute believes that there is no need by the EC to be in such a hurry to publish figures as they are not in competition with any other institution to be the first to publish the collated registration results. Therefore, a few hours of delay to ensure that the collated figures are accurate will not hurt anyone and would go a long way in preventing avoidable mistakes and subsequent corrections, which impact negatively on the reputation of the Commission.
African Electoral Institute urges the EC to continue to work with the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to deliver a credible election and to instill confidence in its operations by the Ghanaian voter.
SIGNED:
Seyram Mankra
Electoral Research Department.
Tel: 0244747128
Augustus Eshun
Director of Communications and External Relations
Tel: 024-460 9891
Nii Adjin Adjin-Tettey
Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations
Tel: 0540904550
Emmanuel Biri
3rd Dep. Director of Communications and External Relations
Tel: 0538421573 (WESTERN REGION AND CENTRAL REGION)
Ex WO1 Alhaji Yussif Mahamah, Head- Electoral Security Department
Tel: 0243311965