The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed strong displeasure over the presence of party supporters at collation centres during the December 7 polls.

According to the Commission, this situation arose from directives issued by some political party leaders instructing their supporters to gather at the constituency collation centres of the EC, where results collation was underway.

Briefing the media on Thursday, December 19, regarding controversies surrounding the nine outstanding constituencies where parliamentary results remain incomplete, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa stated that collation at all centres was proceeding in accordance with the processes outlined in Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 127.

• Read also: Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central collation will not be accepted – EC

However, she noted that the presence of hundreds of supporters who besieged the collation centres disrupted proceedings in several locations.

She explained that these supporters destroyed pink sheets and desktop computers used for electronic collation, assaulted EC staff, and issued death threats, ultimately bringing the process to a halt in some constituencies.

“This is the reason why collation in some constituencies could not be completed prior to the declaration of the presidential results. It is important to emphasize that the collation in all centres was proceeding in accordance with laid-down guidelines as enshrined in C.I. 127 before the supporters stormed our constituency collation centres,” Madam Mensa stated.

She added, “There was therefore no reason or justification for the call to supporters to besiege the collation centres. That call, in the Commission's view, was calculated to disrupt the processes and undermine the seamless and effective electoral procedures that had been in place since polls commenced at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2024.”

In light of these events, Madam Mensa stated that the directives by political parties for supporters to gather at the constituency collation centres were aimed at destroying documentary evidence and erasing all records critical to the collation process.

She stressed that the Commission has faced resistance, threats, intimidation, and property destruction from these supporters, saying that in some instances, EC returning officers were coerced into declaring parliamentary results under duress.

“Our staff have been threatened, and the established collation processes, as guided by law, have been disrupted, and witnesses have been declared without due processes governing collation being followed.

“In a number of instances, our staff have been threatened with death and forced to declare outcomes without adhering to the processes governing collation,” she added. 

The EC Chairperson condemned these actions, reiterating its commitment to ensuring transparency and adherence to the rule of law in the electoral process.

The Commission indicated that it will not accept the collated results of the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies in the just-ended parliamentary elections.

According to the EC, the winner of Okaikwei Central was declared without results from 31 polling stations, while that of Ablekuma North omitted results from 62 polling stations.

Both constituencies were declared for candidates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Madam Mensa described these actions as “illegal,” stating that such declarations cannot be upheld.

In all, the Commission is to re-collate results for nine constituencies namely Nsawan Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwe Central and Ablekuma North. The others are
Tema Central, Techiman South and Dome Kwabenya.

The EC Chair called on the sitting President and the President-elect to beef up security and ensure a safe environment for the EC to re-collate results for the outstanding constituencies.