Election 2024: EC Cancels Parliamentary Results for Dome Kwabenya and Two Other Constituencies

    The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has officially annulled the parliamentary results for the Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North constituencies. This decision was made following the discovery of significant irregularities during the collation process, which included the exclusion of results from multiple polling stations in these areas. The EC attributed the annulment to procedural errors and allegations of threats directed at its staff during the vote tallying phase.

On Thursday, December 19, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa addressed the media in Accra, explaining the reasons behind the annulment of the results. She highlighted that the collation process for Okaikwei Central and Ablekuma North was incomplete, with key polling station data left out, rendering the results inaccurate. In particular, Mensa pointed out that the result declaration in Okaikwei Central was made without properly collating results from 31 polling stations, and similarly, the declaration for Ablekuma North was made despite the omission of data from 62 polling stations.

“This situation is simply unacceptable,” Mensa asserted during the press briefing. She noted that the result declarations in both constituencies were made under duress, with threats being made against EC staff who were working to finalize the results. As a result, the EC has deemed these declarations as illegal, stressing that any similar irregularities found in other constituencies will also be disregarded, and the results will not be accepted.

The decision to annul the results for Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in these areas. The EC has vowed to ensure a more thorough and transparent process in these constituencies going forward. The Chairperson emphasized that the Commission is committed to upholding the highest standards of fairness and transparency in all stages of the election process, as these values are fundamental to maintaining public trust in the electoral system.

Despite the setbacks in these constituencies, the EC has made progress in re-collating the results for several other areas. Out of the 12 constituencies flagged for re-collation due to similar irregularities, the EC has completed the process for Suhum, Akwatia, and Fanteakwa North. The re-collation of results in these constituencies is seen as a step toward addressing concerns regarding vote manipulation and ensuring that only valid results are officially recognized.

However, the situation in Okaikwei Central and Ablekuma North remains unresolved. Due to the irregularities identified in these constituencies, the EC has yet to finalize its next steps. The Commission has not provided a specific timeline for when the issues in these areas will be fully addressed. As a result, the affected constituencies remain in a state of uncertainty, with citizens and political parties alike awaiting further updates from the EC.

The EC’s actions have sparked mixed reactions from political parties and stakeholders. While some have applauded the Commission for upholding the integrity of the electoral process, others have criticized the delays and questioned the extent of the irregularities in the affected constituencies. The annulment has also led to calls for greater scrutiny of the electoral process, with demands for stronger measures to prevent such irregularities from occurring in the future.

The Electoral Commission’s annulment of the parliamentary results for Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North underscores the importance of accuracy and transparency in the electoral process. While the EC has made progress in resolving some issues, the unresolved cases in these constituencies highlight the ongoing challenges facing Ghana’s electoral system. As the Commission continues its efforts to ensure a fair and credible election outcome, the public remains hopeful that the necessary steps will be taken to address the irregularities and ensure that the will of the people is properly reflected in the final results.