We don’t determine outcome of elections – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) has said that the commission does not have the power to determine who wins the 2024 elections.

The Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, gave this assurance at a "Let The Citizen Know" press conference on Friday, September 20, 2024, during which the commission formally announced the list of presidential candidates who qualified to contest the 2024 presidential election as well as those who were disqualified following the nomination process.

The Commission announced that 13 candidates successfully qualified to contest the 2024 elections while 10 candidates either failed to meet the nomination requirements or failed to correct errors that the Commission brought to their attention.

One candidate withdrew his nomination after filing his nomination papers.

Addressing the press conference, the Chairperson of the EC said: “As referees, our role is to arrange and organize an orderly, fair, transparent, peaceful, and credible election. We assure you that we are working to do just that. We do not have the power to determine who wins the elections. It is not in our control to determine the outcome of the election. That power lies with the good people of our dear country. The citizens and the citizens alone can determine who should lead them – Not the Electoral Commission.”

The EC also underscored the commission’s readiness to engage with stakeholders to ensure peaceful, transparent, free, and fair elections in the upcoming elections.

“As we head towards the 7th of December, we urge all of you distinguished citizens to work with us to strengthen and uphold the integrity of our systems and the commission as a whole. Our doors remain open. We assure our stakeholders that we are receptive to constructive feedback and advice. Indeed the feedback and advice from well-meaning Ghanaians has helped enrich our work and enabled us to serve you better."

It is the candidate who is given power to lead this country by the citizens, who will be declared president of the Republic of Ghana by the Electoral Commission come 7th of December, 2024. Thankfully the Electoral Commission has institutionalized a fair, open, transparent, and accountable process to guide the declaration of the results,” she added.