The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed displeasure over the disruptive presence of political party supporters at constituency collation centres during the December 7 polls.
The Commission attributed this disruption to directives from political party leaders instructing their supporters to gather at collation centres, where the process of results collation was underway.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, December 19, EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa highlighted the challenges faced in nine constituencies where parliamentary results remain incomplete.
She noted that the collation process, which followed the procedures outlined in Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 127, was severely disrupted by the actions of supporters.
“These supporters destroyed pink sheets and desktop computers used for electronic collation, assaulted EC staff, and issued death threats. This is why collation in some constituencies could not be completed before the declaration of presidential results,” Madam Mensa stated.
She criticized the call for supporters to besiege collation centres, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the electoral process.
“There was no justification for the call to supporters to gather at the collation centres. That call, in the Commission’s view, was calculated to disrupt the processes and undermine the seamless and effective procedures that had been in place,” she added.
Madam Mensa revealed that EC staff faced resistance, threats, and intimidation, with some returning officers being coerced into declaring results under duress.
“In some instances, our staff were threatened with death and forced to declare outcomes without adhering to the processes governing collation,” she explained.
The EC also disclosed that it would not accept the collated results from the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies due to procedural violations.
In Okaikwei Central, results from 31 polling stations were excluded, while Ablekuma North omitted results from 62 polling stations. Both constituencies had been declared for National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidates.
Madam Mensa described these actions as “illegal” and emphasized that such declarations cannot be upheld.
The EC announced plans to re-collate results for nine constituencies: Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, Techiman South, and Dome Kwabenya.
The EC Chairperson called on the sitting President and President-elect to enhance security measures to ensure a safe environment for the re-collation of results in the affected constituencies.
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