The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in hot water as the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has rejected the parliamentary results from nine constituencies where they reportedly secured victories. This decision could lead to the NDC losing important seats due to allegations of electoral misconduct.
On December 19, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa announced that the commission will not accept the parliamentary results from these constituencies because they were declared under duress (duress means threats, violence, constraints, or other action used to coerce someone into doing something against their will or better judgement):
– Nsawam-Adoagyiri
– Ahafo Ano South West
– Ahafo Ano North
– Obuasi East
– Okaikwei Central
– Ablekuma North
– Tema Central
– Techiman South
– Dome-Kwabenya
Mrs. Jean Mensa stated that the counting of votes in these areas would follow the correct procedures. “The declarations made by our staff were under threats, and we consider them illegal. We will not uphold results made under threats or duress,” she said.
She also urged outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and incoming President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the safety of EC officials. “We appeal to Akufo-Addo and Mahama to intervene and provide the commission with adequate security to fully complete our work in the 2024 general elections,” she added.
The EC has made it clear that it will not accept results that were declared under pressure or without proper procedures. At the press conference, Mrs. Jean Mensa condemned the actions of political party supporters who disrupted vote counting during the December 7 elections.
“After the polls closed on December 7, some political leaders instructed their supporters to surround the EC’s counting centers. This was meant to destroy important documents and disrupt the counting process,” she explained.
She noted that the counting was going smoothly until these disruptions occurred. “The presence of hundreds of supporters at our counting centers halted proceedings in many areas. In some cases, they damaged the computers used for counting the results,” she stated.
She revealed that some EC staff faced threats and were forced to declare results without following the proper procedures. “This is unacceptable. The declarations made by our staff were under threat, and the Commission considers this illegal. Those declarations will not be upheld,” Mensa said.
She highlighted specific cases in the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies, where results were declared without counting votes from 62 and 31 polling stations, respectively.
Source: 3News