The Electoral Commission (EC) has raised serious concerns regarding the presence of party supporters at collation centers during the December 7 elections.
The EC indicated that the situation arose from directives given by certain political party leaders, who instructed their supporters to gather at the constituency collation centers while votes were being tallied.
EC Chairperson Jean Mensa held a media briefing on Thursday, December 19, to address the controversies surrounding the nine outstanding constituencies with incomplete parliamentary results. She assured the public that the collation process at all centers was in line with the guidelines established in Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 127.
Mensa explained that the supporters’ actions resulted in the destruction of pink sheets and desktop computers used for electronic collation, as well as assaults on EC staff and death threats. These actions ultimately halted the process in some constituencies.
“This is why collation in certain constituencies could not be completed before the presidential results were declared. It is crucial to emphasize that collation at all centers was proceeding according to the established guidelines in C.I. 127 prior to the supporters storming our constituency collation centers,” Madam Mensa stated.
She added, “Thus, there was no justification for the call for supporters to besiege the collation centers. In the Commission’s view, this call was intended to disrupt the processes and undermine the smooth and effective electoral procedures that had been in place since polls opened at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2024.”
In light of these events, Madam Mensa stated that the directives from political parties for supporters to assemble at the constituency collation centers were aimed at destroying documentary evidence and erasing all critical records related to the collation process.
She emphasized that the Commission faced resistance, threats, intimidation, and property destruction from these supporters, noting that, in some cases, EC returning officers were coerced into declaring parliamentary results under duress.
“Our staff have been threatened, and the established collation processes—guided by law—have been disrupted. In various instances, witnesses have been declared without the due processes governing collation being followed,” she added.
The EC Chairperson condemned these actions, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to ensuring transparency and adherence to the rule of law in the electoral process.
The Commission announced that it will not accept the collated results from the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies in the recent parliamentary elections. According to the EC, the winner of Okaikwei Central was declared without results from 31 polling stations, while the results from 62 polling stations were omitted in Ablekuma North.
Both constituencies were declared for candidates from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Madam Mensa described these actions as “illegal,” stating that such declarations cannot be upheld.
In total, the Commission plans to re-collate results for nine constituencies: Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North. The others include Tema Central, Techiman South, and Dome Kwabenya.
The EC Chair urged the sitting President and President-elect to enhance security measures and create a secure environment for the Electoral Commission to safely re-collate results from the remaining constituencies.
