The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, chaired by Jean Mensa, issued a statement on Wednesday, December 10, addressing concerns and misinformation surrounding the temporary suspension of vote collation in the Ablekuma North constituency. The EC emphasized its commitment to completing the collation process in all outstanding constituencies as quickly as possible, but stressed the importance of adhering to the legal framework established by C.I. 127. This regulation mandates the presence of two agents from each political party at collation centers and stipulates that the collation process be overseen by the Returning Officer and designated EC officials.
The EC’s decision to temporarily halt collation in Ablekuma North stemmed from serious breaches of these legal procedures. The statement highlighted the disruptive and threatening behavior of party supporters who besieged collation centers, engaged in physical and verbal abuse of EC staff, and destroyed property. Furthermore, these supporters exerted undue pressure on EC officials to declare results that did not align with the data recorded on the official pink sheets, which serve as the primary record of vote tallies from individual polling stations. The EC expressed its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process, which necessitated the temporary suspension of collation until proper legal and security measures could be reinstated.
The EC’s statement also addressed the broader issue of escalating tensions and violence at various collation centers across the country. The statement cited specific instances in Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Ayensuano constituencies, where party supporters engaged in acts of vandalism, destruction of election materials, including crucial pink sheets and ballot papers, and physical assault on EC personnel. The EC condemned these actions and questioned the motives behind the destruction of documents that are essential for verifying the election results. The burning and vandalization of these materials raise serious concerns about potential attempts to manipulate the outcome of the election.
The EC issued a direct call to all political parties to immediately withdraw their supporters from collation centers to ensure a safe and lawful environment for the completion of the vote counting process. The Commission stated that it was actively collaborating with security agencies and party leadership to restore order and implement the necessary legal and security protocols. The EC expressed confidence that collation in Ablekuma North would resume shortly once these measures were in place.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency and the integrity of the electoral process, the EC assured the public that it had no intention of obstructing the collation of results in any outstanding constituency. The Commission’s primary objective is to ensure that the legal procedures are followed diligently, safeguarding the will of the people as expressed through their votes. The EC’s emphasis on adherence to legal procedures and the security of its staff underscores the challenges faced in conducting free and fair elections in the face of heightened political tensions.
The incidents described by the EC highlight the importance of maintaining peaceful and respectful conduct during the electoral process. The destruction of election materials, intimidation of EC staff, and disregard for legal procedures threaten the very foundation of democratic elections. The EC’s call for political parties to take responsibility for their supporters’ actions underlines the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring a credible and peaceful electoral process. The ability of the EC to complete the collation process and declare the final election results hinges on the cooperation of political parties and their supporters in upholding the law and respecting the integrity of the electoral system.
