The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensa, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding the will of the people in the ongoing election process.

Her comments came during a press conference on Sunday, December 8, as tensions heightened across the country following agitations by youth at various collation centres demanding swift declaration of results.

Addressing the nation, Jean Mensa highlighted the EC’s meticulous collation process, emphasizing transparency and inclusivity as hallmarks of the electoral system.

“We assure all the people of Ghana that it is the will of the people, as expressed at the polls, that will be reflected in the results we declare. The people’s choice as President of the Republic of Ghana will be announced,” she said.

Elaborate and Transparent Process

Explaining the process of collation, the EC Chair noted that all political parties receive copies of the pink sheets from polling stations, which form the basis of the results.

“The collation process does not stop at the polling station. It moves from the constituency level to the regional level, and then to the National Collation Centre, with party agents, observers, and media involved at every stage,” she explained.

She added, “No counting is done at the collation centres; the process simply involves collating the results from the pink sheets, and party agents endorse them before moving forward.”

This multi-step process, Mensa argued, underscores the transparency and fairness of Ghana’s electoral system.

“The Commission has walked the walk of transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and inclusiveness. This has ensured that the election has been peaceful, credible, fair, and acceptable by all stakeholders,” Jean Mensa said.

Call for Patience Amid Anxiety

As the nation awaits the official results, Mensa called on citizens to exercise patience, assuring them that the process was progressing smoothly.

“It has been only 23 hours since polls closed. We broke our record in 2020 by declaring results within 48 hours, and we are confident that within 72 hours, we will have the final presidential results,” she stated.

However, she acknowledged delays in certain areas caused by disruptions at collation centres.

“In some cases, supporters of political parties have besieged our offices, making it difficult for our staff to carry out their duties.

"We have spoken with party leadership to recall their supporters and allow the process to continue unhindered,” she disclosed.

Swift Declaration Where Possible

Jean Mensa assured Ghanaians that the EC would prioritise speed without compromising accuracy.

“In cases where results from certain constituencies are delayed but do not affect the overall outcome, we will proceed to declare the presidential results. This ensures that we do not keep the nation waiting unnecessarily,” she explained.

Reassurance of Credibility

Reiterating the Commission’s dedication to fairness, Mensa said, “The evidence is clear. The process from polling stations to the national level is designed to reflect the true will of the people. The Commission’s actions speak for themselves.”

She urged political parties and citizens to trust the process, promising that the EC would uphold its mandate to protect Ghana’s democracy.

As the nation waits with bated breath, Jean Mensa ended with a plea for calm and confidence in the electoral system.

“Let us all support the Commission in this critical time. The will of the people will prevail, and Ghana will emerge stronger from this process,” she concluded.