The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has appealed for enhanced security to ensure the smooth completion of the re-collation process for some nine constituencies following the December 7, 2024, elections.
The Commission has firmly stated that it will not validate results declared under duress or without adherence to proper collation processes as enshrined in the law.
Addressing the media on Thursday, December 19 on controversies surrounding results from nine outstanding constituencies, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa condemned the actions of political party supporters who disrupted collation activities at constituency centres during the December 7 polls.
“At the close of polls on Saturday the 7th of December 2024, there was a directive by some political party leaders to their supporters to besiege the coalition centres of the EC where the coalition was taking place.
"…The directive to the supporters to besiege the constituency collation centres was targeted at destroying documentary evidence and pink sheets, ballot papers, results collation forms, computers and to erase and wipe out all documents to be used for the collation."
Madam Mensa noted that collation processes across all centres were proceeding in accordance with the provisions of Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 127 until violent disruptions occurred.
"The presence of hundreds of supporters who besieged our coalition centres brought proceedings to a standstill in a number of the centres. In some instances, they vandalized and destroyed the desktop computers set up to collate the results electronically," she stated.
The EC Chairperson disclosed that some staff faced threats of death and were coerced into declaring results without following due process.
"This is unacceptable. It is important to note that the declarations made by our staff were made under threat and the Commission considers this illegal.
"Those declarations, as well as others that have gone on in other constituencies, will not be upheld by the Commission," the EC Chairperson stated.
She said new arrangements with the police to have the re-collation for nine constituencies appear not to be working out due to further threats of unrest according to police intelligence, hence her call on the president and the president-elect to beef up security for the Commission.
She said Ghana cannot afford to encourage a situation where depending on one's might one can determine the outcome of elections.
“As a country, we should not go down that slippery slope,” she stated. “We, therefore, use this occasion to humbly call on the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as our President-Elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to intervene in this matter to ensure that the Commission is provided with the necessary security and protection to carry out its functions.”
The EC also urged the National Election Security Task Force to coordinate efforts and establish measures to safeguard its staff, resources, and processes. This, the Chairperson noted, would ensure that the final outcomes reflect the true will of the people, as captured on the pink sheets.
She further emphasized the Commission’s impartial role, stating, “Our mandate is not to make anybody a President or a Member of Parliament. Our mandate is simply to conduct credible, transparent, and fair processes that uphold the choice of voters.”
Highlighting the success of the December 7 elections, the EC Chairperson described the event as a testament to the Commission’s commitment to credibility and fairness. She appealed to Ghanaians to support the Commission in fulfilling its duties.
“We would like to finally call on the citizens of Ghana to support us in our bid to carry out our mandate”.
Citing specific instances, Madam Mensa highlighted disruptions in the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies, noting that results for these areas were declared without collating data from 62 and 31 polling stations, respectively.
In all, the Commission is to re-collate results for nine constituencies namely Nsawan Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwe Central and Ablekuma North. The others are Tema Central, Techiman South and Dome Kwabenya.
Credit: Clara Seshie