'Re-collation is not new' - EC defends its decision, lists instances where election results were re-collated in the past

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has defended its decision to re-collate and re-declare parliamentary results of five constituencies initially won by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended December 7, 2024, general election.

In a post shared on social media on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, the commission stated that the re-collation of parliamentary election results is not a novelty.

“Re-collation after the declaration of results is not new. It has happened before,” the post shared by the EC was titled.

It went on to list instances where parliamentary election results were re-collated and re-declared in the past, including in 1988 and 2004, as follows:

“2004 - The EC, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, re-collated and overturned parliamentary results for the Pru Constituency and declared the NDC candidate as the MP-Elect instead of the NPP candidate who had earlier been declared the winner.

“1988 - During the District Level Elections in the Domposse Kokweado Electoral Area in the KEEA District, the Commission, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, overturned an earlier declaration and went on to declare the right candidate the winner.”

The EC also stated, “Re-collation of results following violent disruption of the collation process is not new. It has happened before.”

It also listed instances where elections disrupted by violence were re-collated as follows:

“2004 - The EC, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, re-collated parliamentary results for the Pru Constituency and declared the right candidate the winner.

“2004 - The EC, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, re-collated parliamentary results for the Tolon Constituency and declared the right candidate the winner.

“2004 - The EC, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, re-collated parliamentary results for the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency and declared the right candidate the winner.

“2004 - The EC, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, re-collated parliamentary results for the Zabzugu Constituency and declared the right candidate the winner.”

Background:

The EC came under heavy criticism over its decision to go ahead with the re-collation and continued collation of the parliamentary election results of nine constituencies.

After the exercise, which was done on Saturday, December 21, 2024, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates in the seven constituencies, whose processes were completed, were declared winners.

Four seats, which were initially declared for the NDC, namely Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Techiman South, were re-declared in favour of the NPP.

The Obuasi East seat, which was initially declared for NDC’s Samuel Aboagye, was re-declared for NPP’s Patrick Boakye-Yiadom; the Tema Central seat, which was declared for NDC’s Ebi Bright, was re-declared for NPP’s Charles Forson.

Also, the Techiman South seat was re-declared for NPP’s Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah after it had been initially declared for Christopher Beyere Baasongti, and the Okaikwei Central seat was re-declared for NPP’s Patrick Boamah after it was initially declared for NDC’s Baba Sadiq.

The Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, and Ahafo Ano North constituencies, which were initially incomplete, were also declared in favour of the NPP’s Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, and Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, respectively.

Two constituencies - Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya - are, however, yet to be determined.

For the Ablekuma North Constituency, NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat without the results of 62 polling stations.

The NPP’s candidate for the constituency is Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a former MP and the current Deputy Chief Executive of the Coastal Development Authority.

For Dome Kwabenya, NDC’s Elikplim Akurugu was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat, beating NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jr.

BAI/EK

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