The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched a spirited defense against assertions that its decision to re-collate results is a new norm.
Speaking to the press during an engagement dubbed “Let the Citizens Know,” Deputy Chair of the Commission in charge of corporate affairs, Dr. Bossman Asare, noted that they could not uphold a system fraught with illegalities.
He cited instances under the leadership of the first EC chair, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan where recollation was conducted by the commission.
“The following are examples of recollation that took place after disruptions of declarations at the Electoral Commission under the leadership of our former chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan in 2004.
“In Zabzugu-Tatale during the collation of the parliamentary election results, a mob attacked the collation centre, destroying all materials in sight especially the statement of poll and declaration sheets that is pink sheet,” he narrated.
He said an election official was attacked, leading to their hospitalization which effectively truncated the collation process.
Dr. Asare continued: “On the 24th of December, 2024, the Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan-led Electoral Commission invited the parliamentary candidates of the NPP and the NDC to tender in their statements of poll and declaration of results sheets for the collation process to be completed in Tamale.”
His comments come after many opposition politicians particularly in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) camp, have accused the EC of orchestrating an illegality by recollating pink sheets.
The party has vowed to strongly respond to what it has repeatedly called an “illegality”.
Constituencies where recollation and redeclaration have taken place since December 7 include Nsawam-Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North and Obuasi East, all in the Ashanti Region, Tema Central in the Greater Accra Region and Techiman South in the Bono East Region.
The commission is yet to make a determination on the way forward with regards to the Ablekuma North and Dome-Kwabenya constituency results.