Richard Ahiagbah, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) director of communications, has verified rumors that he cast a ballot in the general elections of 2020 despite not having his name on the voter registration list.
Richard Ahiagbah claimed that even though he had a legitimate voter identification card that was granted to him after he finished his registration in 2020, his name was not in the register when he went to vote in an interview with Accra-based Neat FM on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
“In 2020, I cast a ballot. You need to question EC officials as to why, despite my name not being on the register, I was still able to cast a ballot.
“Because my name appears on a voter ID card that I own. When we were requested to register for a fresh voter registration in 2020, I received it. In his Twi accent, he remarked, “I have the card, and it contains the polling place number where I have always been voting.
“When it came my turn to cast a ballot on December 7, 2020, the officials informed me that my name was not on the register,” he continued. I then produced my documentation and questioned why my information was missing from the register.”
The director of NPP communications continued, saying that although an election day EC official had acknowledged that he should be permitted to cast a ballot, he was unsure of the reasoning for it given that his name was not on the voter registration.
He continued by saying that only EC authorities could explain his ability to cast a ballot despite the fact that his name was not on the 2020 voter registration list.
Following his accusation of double registration by National Democratic Congress (NDC) members when he tried to register at a Ketu South electoral registration location on Saturday, May 11, 2024, Richard Ahiagbah made his comments.
A video of the incident was seen by Yes Ghana Online, showing a tumultuous registration center with several NDC agents heard in the background asking how Richard Ahiagbah, who was not registered to vote, was able to cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election.
Following the event, there was alleged evidence that suggested Ahiagbah cast a ballot in the 2020 election even though his name was not listed on the voter list.
An image of the voter register used for the election also revealed that Ahiagbah’s information, which included his name, age, date of birth, and polling place code, was handwritten in pen at the bottom of the register by an electoral official prior to him casting his ballot.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), an opposition party, urged that Richard Ahiagbah be taken into custody for the crime of double registration in response to the events of Saturday.
In an interview with Metro TV, NDC Deputy National Communication Officer Malik Basintale demanded his immediate arrest.
“We will not put up with the NPP’s attempt to usurp Ghanaians’ mandate in the polls scheduled for December 7th by using dubious tactics. We are requesting that he be arrested right away by the Ghana Police Service and we have the challenge form with us. In the event that they don’t, we shall make a citizen’s arrest.
“We will not stand by and watch the NPP engage in illegal activities to rig the elections. We will do everything within our power to ensure that the will of the people is respected,” he told News Night Anchor Michael Addo on Metro TV.
