Electoral Commission Updates Nation on Nine Outstanding Constituencies

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has provided an update on the nine outstanding constituencies where parliamentary results are yet to be completed. According to the EC Chairperson, Madam Jean Adukwei Mensa, the commission has been facing challenges in completing the collation process in these constituencies due to disruptions caused by supporters of political parties.

The EC Chairperson explained that on election day, Saturday, December 7, 2024, some political party leaders directed their supporters to besiege the coalition centers of the EC, disrupting the collation process. This led to the destruction of pink sheets, results collation forms, and desktop computers, as well as threats and physical attacks on EC staff.

Despite efforts to complete the collation process, the EC has been unable to do so due to security concerns. The commission has held discussions with the Ghana Police Service to provide protection for its staff and processes, but the police have indicated that their intelligence reports show planned unrests by party supporters, making it difficult to guarantee security.

The EC Chairperson emphasized that the commission is committed to ensuring that all outstanding processes in the nine constituencies follow due process. The commission will not uphold declarations ensuing from incomplete and unlawful processes.

The nine outstanding constituencies are:

– *Ablekuma North*: Collation process disrupted, and results declared without due process.
– *Okaikwei Central*: Winner declared without collating results from 31 polling stations.
– *Tema Central*: DEO forced to declare results using 146 polling stations instead of 148.
– *Dome Kwabenya*: Contention with three polling station results, with 367 results duly declared as legitimate.
– *Nsawam Adoagyiri*: Collation process disrupted, and results not declared.
– *Akwatia*: Collation process completed, and winner declared.
– *Fanteakwa North*: Collation process completed, and winner declared.
– *Suhum*: Collation process completed, and winner declared.
– *Obuasi East*: Collation center attacked, and returning officer threatened with an axe.

The EC Chairperson called on the President and President-Elect to intervene and ensure that the commission is provided with the necessary security and protection to carry out its functions. The commission also called on the National Election Security Task Force to work together to put in place arrangements to ensure that EC staff and processes are protected and secured.

In conclusion, the EC Chairperson emphasized that the commission’s mandate is to conduct credible, transparent, and fair processes that uphold the choice of voters. The commission is committed to ensuring that the true outcomes of the election reflect the will of the people as expressed on the pink sheets.