The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has affirmed its decision to complete the collation of results from two outstanding constituencies in Accra due to security concerns in the affected areas.
Addressing a press conference, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate service, Dr. Bossman Asare, noted that similar measures have been taken in the past under the leadership of Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan and other commissioners.
According to the EC, 10 out of 12 constituencies initially marked as outstanding have been successfully declared. The final two will be concluded before the next Parliament begins its session. The EC stressed its commitment to upholding the will of the people as expressed at polling stations, ensuring that all legal protocols are followed.
Dr. Bossman referenced cases from 2004, including incidents in the Tolon and Pru constituencies, where security threats disrupted collation. In both instances, results were recollected and declared in regional capitals, Tamale and Sunyani, respectively. The EC emphasized that these recollection exercises were conducted in adherence to legal frameworks, dismissing claims that post-declaration recollections are unlawful.
The EC’s decision to relocate collation to Accra was made after consultations with the Ghana Police Service and the Election Security Task Force. The move aims to safeguard the integrity of the process and protect EC officials from potential harm.
Of the 276 parliamentary seats, 274 have been declared and gazetted, with details submitted to the Clerk of Parliament. The EC reiterated that its role is to reflect the will of the people, not to favor any political party or candidate.
The Commission called on stakeholders to support its mandate, emphasizing that any grievances should be addressed through appropriate legal channels.