The Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission (EC) has called on political parties to withdraw their supporters from collation centres to aid collation of outstanding ballots.

The EC lamented their offices being besieged by party supporters; critical election documents being destroyed; and its staff being subjected to harassment, threats and bullying, in the process.

“This has happened in the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central and Ayensuano Constituencies,” the EC cited.

It noted, also, contrary to reports, it was “confident that collation in Ablekuma North will commence in the next few hours”. 

The EC said so in a statement dated Tuesday, December 10, and released, Wednesday evening.

See the entire report below:

The Electoral Commision has taken note of misleading statements regarding its decision to temporarily halt the collation of results for the Ablekuma North Constituency, scheduled to take place in the Greater Accra Regional Office today.

The Commission wishes the public to note that more than any institution, it would like to bring an end to all collation in outstanding constituencies.

The Commission, however, believes that this collation should be done in accordance with the legal requirements as enshrined in C.I.127, which requires every political party to present two agents to the collation centre, and directs that collation be done by the Returning Officer and any other officer designated by the Electoral Commission.

Contrary to legal requirements, what is currently transpiring is that political party supporters continue to besiege some collation centres, threaten and physically abuse our staff and destroy property.

Additionally, these supporters order our staff, under duress, to declare results which are not reflected on the pink sheets.

The commission is desirous of upholding the laws which govern its operation. It is for this reason that the commission earlier ordered that collation of results for the Ablekuma North Constituency be halted temporarily until the proper legal and security structures are restored

Images of these threats in other collations centres have been captured on TV. They show party supporters burning and vandalisng property, destroying ballot papers, and pink sheets, and physically abusing our staff. This has happened in the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central and Ayensuano Constituencies.

In all these places, the modus operandi have been to besiege our collation centres and destroy everything in sight, including pink sheets and ballots which are important to establish the outcome of the election.

The question is, why should documents that confirm the outcome of the election be destroyed?

We call on the political parties to withdraw their supporters from the collation centres.

We are currently working with the leadership of the security agencies and the political parties to ensure that the laid down legal procedures are in place.

The Commission is confident that collation in Ablekuma North will commence in the next few hours.

The Commission assures the public that it will in no way hinder the collation of results in the outstanding constituencies.

It is, however, committed to ensure that the legal processes are followed in a way that guarantees that the choice of the citizens at the polls is upheld.