By Edward Acquah
Accra, Dec. 10, GNA- The Electoral Commission (EC) has called on political party leaders to remove their supporters from collation centres to ensure the peaceful and orderly collation of results in the remaining constituencies.
The EC particularly mentioned the Greater Accra Regional Collation Centre, where party supporters had gathered, demanding the results for the Ablekuma North Constituency, ignoring legal protocols.
At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday evening, Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chair of the EC in charge of operations, stated that collation in the Ablekuma North Constituency had been suspended due to safety concerns for EC staff.
He explained that party supporters had threatened, physically abused EC staff, and destroyed property, putting immense pressure on the staff to declare results that were inconsistent with the pink sheets.
“The Commission is desirous of upholding the laws that govern its operations, and it is for that reason that the Commission has ordered that Collation in Ablekuma North be halted temporarily until the proper legal and security structures are restored,” Mr Tettey said.
He said the Commission had observed similar disturbances in the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Tema Central, and Ayensuano constituencies.
“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 of results in Ablekuma North will re-commence in a few hours,” Mr. Tettey said.
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Ghanaians voted to elect a President and 276 Members of Parliament.
The EC declared the results from 267 constituencies on Monday evening, with 9 constituencies still pending.
The Commission attributed the delays to the large gatherings of party supporters at some collation centres, which hindered the smooth progress of the collation process.
GNA