In a bid to facilitate the collation of outstanding ballots, the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a stern appeal to political parties, urging them to withdraw their supporters from collation centres. Apexnewsgh reports
This call comes amidst rising tensions and disruptions at several venues, where instances of harassment, threats, and even the destruction of critical election documents have been reported.
The Commission highlighted that incidents of such nature have been particularly severe in the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Ayensuano Constituencies. Supporters of various political factions have besieged collation centres, creating an environment of intimidation that has made it exceedingly challenging for EC staff to perform their duties effectively.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the EC addressed misleading claims regarding the temporary halt of the collation of results for the Ablekuma North Constituency, initially scheduled to occur at the Greater Accra Regional Office. The Commission emphasized its commitment to concluding the collation process as swiftly as possible, but underlined the necessity of adhering to legal protocols outlined in C.I.127. This regulation mandates that each political party appoints two agents to the collation centre, tasks which should be executed by the designated Returning Officer and other officials from the Commission.
The EC’s statement underscored the disarray that has unfolded at some collation centres, where supporters have resorted to physical aggression, vandalism, and attempts to force staff into declaring results that do not align with official records. With chaos erupting, the Commission found it imperative to pause the collation process in Ablekuma North until sufficient legal and security measures are in place.
The public has been made aware of the reprehensible actions captured on media outlets, illustrating supporters burning property, destroying ballot papers, and perpetrating violence against EC staff members. The Commission has raised a critical question: “Why should documents that confirm the outcome of the election be destroyed?”
In light of these troubling events, the EC reiterates its call to political parties, emphasizing the need to ensure that their supporters refrain from intimidating EC officials and disrupting the election process.
The Commission is currently collaborating with security agencies and party leaders to restore order and uphold the rule of law.
As the situation develops, the EC remains optimistic that collation for the Ablekuma North Constituency will resume within hours, assuring the public that it remains committed to following legal protocols to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and uphold the will of the citizens.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
