We are not conspiring with EC to rig 2020 polls – NIA to NDC

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has reacted to the allegation by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it was conspiring with the Electoral Commission (EC) to rig the 2020 general elections in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The NIA in a press statement on Friday challenged the NDC to provide evidence to support the allegation.

“NIA is not part of the election management architecture in Ghana. There is no conspiracy between NIA and EC to rig the 2020 elections. Election rigging is a serious criminal matter with dire political, economic and social consequences for any nation.

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“Any person, party or institution alleging such a criminal conspiracy has a duty to report same to the police and provide the requisite evidence to support investigations and/or prosecution,” the NIA said.

The NDC at a press conference on Thursday said activities of the NIA and the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2020 polls were all geared towards rigging the elections.

The National Chairman of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, for instance alleged that the NIA prioritised the Ashanti Region and Eastern Region, deemed a stronghold of the NPP during its registration exercise.

He said the NIA deployed a number of its equipment to the region in a bid to capture more people so the NPP could get more voters to be captured onto the new electoral roll.

• Related:
• EC and NIA planning to rig 2020 elections - NDC alleges
• With or without a new register, NPP is prepared to win 2020 polls - Mac Manu to NDC
• NPP, NDC haggle over electoral roll

The NIA in responding, however, said it “does not operate on the basis of political strongholds.”

“Our operations planning is based on population statistics obtained from the Ghana Statistical Service. There has been no deliberate effort to prevent applicants in any region to register,” it said.

Attached below is the NIA's full response to the NDC allegations