Ofusehene Asante Manasseh, the Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer for the Electoral Commission (EC), has alleged that he was coerced by prominent members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to declare Ebi Bright as the MP-elect for the Tema Central constituency following Saturday’s parliamentary elections.

In a letter to the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, Mr Asante claimed that both his life and the lives of his officers were threatened by NDC officials and their agitated supporters, forcing him to declare the result in favour of the NDC candidate. He has called for the declaration to be annulled.

Mr Asante accused the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Nelson Rockson Defeamekpor, NDC Deputy National Communications Officer Malik Basintale, and other NDC supporters of surrounding the collation centre and pressuring him to announce Ebi Bright as the winner.

“In fact, Rockson Defeamekpor kept threatening me throughout the collation process, and whenever I disagreed with him on a legal matter, one of their national executives, Basintale, began inciting their supporters, who had gathered and invaded the collation centre, chanting revolutionary songs,” Mr Asante explained.

He went on to say that, despite police officers being assigned to protect him, the threats continued even after he was taken to the Tema Regional Police Command for safety.

“Mr Defeamekpor and Mr Basintale drove their supporters to the police premises and insisted that I declare Ebi Bright as the winner,” he added.

Amidst the mounting pressure, Mr Asante said he was forced to declare Ebi Bright as the MP-elect, even though the results from two polling stations had not yet been collated.

“My life, the lives of my officials, as well as those of the police and media, were at stake. I was forced to prioritise my safety over the legality,” he stated.

He further explained that had the outstanding polling station results been included, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Charles Forson, would have won by 55 votes.

“There are, however, two outstanding polling station results, which, when added to the collated results, would change the outcome of the election. It would make the NPP candidate, Charles Forson, the winner by a margin of 55 votes,” he revealed.

Mr Asante has formally requested that the EC Chairperson annul the declaration, as he believes it was made illegally by him, rather than the authorised returning officer for the constituency, Kwasi Brobbey.

After Saturday’s elections, Ebi Bright was said to have secured 18,539 votes, while NPP’s Forson received 18,421 votes.

“The declaration made under duress cannot stand as it was not made by the authorised returning officer,” the statement added.