The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed to its supporters to exercise their legal right to monitor the collation of election results while strictly adhering to electoral regulations.

Speaking to the media on 7 December, NDC Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi underscored the significance of public oversight in the electoral process.

He emphasised that the sorting and counting of ballot papers are public activities, legally accessible to citizens, and urged vigilance from party members.

“That exercise is not an exercise in secrecy; it’s a public exercise. It’s not supposed to be done in secrecy. It is just like the sorting out of the ballot papers, which is done at the collation level,” Mr. Gyamfi affirmed.

He clarified that while polling agents officially represent political parties, members of the public are permitted to observe the proceedings.

“Even though there are polling agents representing the various political parties, the general public is allowed to observe that process, at least 100 metres from where the real exercise is done. So, if you are a member of the general public, you can go and observe the sorting out of the ballot papers, counting, and declarations,” he explained.

Taking a swipe at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Electoral Commission (EC), Gyamfi challenged them to uphold transparency.

“If the NPP and the EC have nothing to hide, they should join us in inviting members of the public to come and observe the collation process. We’re not asking our supporters to enter the collation rooms, no. We have always done this since 1992. Jean Mensa, Bossman Asare, and Samuel Tettey-led EC cannot change it, nor can the failed outgoing NPP government change this,” he stated firmly.

He further dismissed recent criticisms from the NPP.

 “Ignore the lamentations of our friends in the NPP who have all of a sudden turned into evangelists,” the NDC Communications Officer added.