EC registered 449 overseas voters not 705 - Dr. Prempeh

Manhyia South MP, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has challenged the authenticity of the 705 figure given by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the number of Ghanaian voters registered abroad for the 2012 polls.

According to the MP, the EC registered 449 Ghanaians working with international bodies and Ghanaian diplomatic missions abroad for the national elections.

He said the EC, about a month to the general elections, provided the NPP with the figure 449, as number Ghanaians abroad registered for the 2012 presidential polls.

He stated that the EC informed the NPP that about 256 Ghanaians who had just arrived in the country from a peace mission had been registered to take part in the polls.

He therefore insisted not all those captured in the 705 figure given by the EC were registered abroad, insisting the 256 Ghanaians which the EC claimed returned from a peace mission were registered in the country.

The EC claim the total number of registered voters abroad captured in the Biometric Voters Register (BVR) of the Electoral Commission (EC) for the 2012 elections was 2,883.

They include diplomatic staff serving in Ghanaian missions abroad, students on Ghana government scholarships, Ghanaians serving with international bodies as well as Ghana service personnel returning from international peacekeeping duties.

The total number of people registered abroad was contained in the full list presented by the EC to the Supreme Court Registry last Tuesday, as part of the processes in a petition filed by three New Patriotic Party (NPP) leaders, including the party’s December 2012 presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , challenging the commission’s declaration of John Dramani Mahama As President. The other petitioners are Nana Addo’s running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the party chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey.

In the document, the EC puts the number of service personnel returning from international peacekeeping duties at 2,178, while the total number of diplomatic staff serving abroad, as well as students on government scholarships and Ghanaians serving with international bodies was 705.

This brings the total number to 2,883, leaving the EC to fish for the missing 238,117.

Dr. Opoku-Prempeh therefore charged the EC to quickly come out and clear the air.