The controversy surrounding the 2024 parliamentary election in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency revolves around the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to order a re-run at a specific polling station, a decision vehemently contested by the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC argues that their candidate, Elikplim Akurugu, secured a legitimate victory and that the EC’s justification for the re-run, the absence of a pink sheet (the official results document from the polling station), is insufficient and potentially sets a dangerous precedent. They fear that allowing such a re-run based on a missing pink sheet, without further investigation, could incentivize future electoral malpractice by enabling presiding officers to deliberately mismanage or lose pink sheets to influence election outcomes.
The NDC’s Director of Legal Services, Edudzi Tamekloe, has been particularly vocal in his opposition, characterizing the EC’s decision as unconstitutional and without legal basis. He contends that a re-run under these circumstances undermines the integrity of the electoral process and opens the door to manipulation. Tamekloe insists that the appropriate course of action, if there were concerns about the results, would have been a recount of the ballots in the disputed ballot box. This, he argues, would have provided a definitive verification of the actual votes cast and compared them to the figures initially reported, regardless of the missing pink sheet.
Tamekloe further emphasizes the strategic significance of the Abokobi polling station, the location slated for the re-run, highlighting it as an NDC stronghold. This adds another layer of suspicion to the EC’s decision, raising concerns about potential partisan motivations behind the re-run order. He frames the EC’s actions as an unnecessary and baseless exercise, suggesting a lack of genuine concern for electoral accuracy and potentially hinting at a deliberate attempt to undermine the NDC’s victory in the constituency. Tamekloe’s characterization of the situation as “much ado about nothing” underscores the NDC’s belief that the EC is creating an artificial crisis.
The crux of the NDC’s argument rests on the principle of upholding the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. They contend that ordering a re-run based solely on a missing pink sheet, without exploring other avenues of verification such as a ballot recount, creates a vulnerability in the system that could be exploited for partisan gain. Their concern is not just about the immediate impact on the Dome-Kwabenya election outcome but also about the long-term consequences for Ghana’s electoral system. They fear that this precedent could erode trust in the EC and create opportunities for electoral manipulation in future elections.
The NDC’s firm stance against the re-run signals their commitment to challenging what they perceive as an unjust and potentially manipulative action by the Electoral Commission. Tamekloe’s strong language, declaring the EC’s decision unconstitutional and emphasizing the NDC’s resolve to resist the re-run, highlights the seriousness of the situation and the party’s determination to protect the perceived victory of their candidate. Their insistence on a ballot recount instead of a re-run further underscores their belief in the validity of the original election results and their suspicion of the EC’s motives.
The situation in Dome-Kwabenya underscores the delicate balance between ensuring the integrity of electoral procedures and respecting the outcomes of democratic processes. The missing pink sheet presents a genuine challenge, but the NDC argues that the solution should not be a re-run which they see as potentially more problematic. Their call for a recount reflects a desire for a solution that verifies the actual votes cast, addressing the core issue of accurate vote tabulation and minimizing the potential for manipulation or disenfranchisement. The ultimate resolution of this dispute will have significant implications for the future conduct of elections in Ghana and the public’s trust in the electoral system.
