‘If we can do it in 36 hours, why not?’ – EC on presidential results timeline
The Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Corporate Services, has assured that they are committed to delivering the presidential election results within 72 hours after polls close on December 7.
Dr. Bossman Asare speaking on Joy FM, stated the importance of accuracy, transparency, and adherence to established timelines in the electoral process.
“By convention, we work within 72 hours, and I believe we are going to work within the 72 hours to ensure that Ghanaians know the outcome of the presidential election,” Dr Asare said.
He noted that while the EC is prepared to work efficiently, the process requires meticulous checks at every stage to ensure credibility.
Explaining the timeline, Dr Asare highlighted the multi-step process required to collate results from constituencies across the country.
“For the parliamentary [election], some constituencies may conclude their processes as early as 12 midnight, 1 am, or 2 am. After that, those presidential results will be sent to the regional capitals,” he said.
From there, regional officials will review the results before forwarding them to the EC headquarters in Accra, where the Chairperson will officially declare the outcome.
Dr. Asare also stressed that the EC prioritizes transparency.
“We shouldn’t forget that parties are going to be represented at all these levels to ensure transparency and credibility of the process,” he stated.
Reflecting on the 2020 elections, he explained that while the EC initially aimed to declare results within 24 hours, the declaration was eventually made within 48 hours.
The decision to adopt a 72-hour timeline this year is a strategic move to balance efficiency with thoroughness.
“The target we set in 2020 was to do it in 24 hours, but we ended up doing it in almost 48 hours. This time, we are giving ourselves more time.
“If we can get everything in less than 24 hours, why not? If we can get it in about 36 hours, we’ll go ahead and do it. But as much as possible, within 72 hours, we are going to do the needful,” he explained.
Dr. Asare reassured Ghanaians that the Commission is prepared to deliver timely and credible results.
“We will take our time and ensure that every step of the process is carefully managed so that, by the end of three days, the outcome is clear and satisfactory to all stakeholders.”
While acknowledging the logistical challenges of transmitting results from remote constituencies to regional capitals, he maintained that the EC has systems in place to manage the process efficiently.
“We will do our very best to follow convention and ensure Ghanaians receive the results they deserve,” he affirmed.
Source: MyJoyOnline
