Former President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) call for a forensic audit of the voter register is not motivated by hatred towards Electoral Commission (EC) commissioners.

Addressing party supporters in Accra, Mahama emphasized that the NDC’s concerns stem from a desire to ensure peace and confidence in the electoral process.

“Our issues with the Electoral Commission are not personal; we want to guarantee the integrity of the voter register and protect the will of voters,” Mahama said.

He encouraged all Ghanaians to join the NDC’s September 17 protest, aimed at pressuring the EC to conduct an independent forensic audit.

Meanwhile, Imani Africa’s founder, Franklin Cudjoe, has backed the NDC’s call, stating that the EC has nothing to lose by conducting the audit.

“You can’t trust this EC at all,” Cudjoe said, citing Afrobarometer reports that show the EC as one of the least trusted public institutions.

However, EC Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare disputed the need for an audit, arguing that it implies a “massive bloat” in the register, which he claims is unfounded.

The debate highlights the ongoing tensions between the NDC and the EC ahead of the 2024 general elections.