Unprecedented illegal re-collation of results by the EC is a threat to our democracy - Jibril

Mahdi Jibril, Deputy Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says the ongoing re-collation of results in the disputed constituency of the parliamentary election is unprecedented and unfortunate.

Jibril expressed concern that what is happening is bad for Ghana's democracy and will undermine the integrity and credibility of our electoral processes.

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he stated, "What is happening with our electoral process in terms of results re-collation, which is unprecedented, is unfortunate for this country's democracy."

He stated that elections are held at polling stations, counted, and declared and that if there is a challenge, you can request a recount at the polling station.

"After that, you will be required to sign as an agent, and if you disagree, you must state your reasons before the polling station results are sent to the collation centres. Then, the collation process is completed, and the returning officer declares the winner of the parliamentary election.

"For the presidential elections, the officer would only announce the results and then forward them to the regional collation centres, who would then send them to the national headquarters.

"To emphasise my point, the returning officer for the parliamentary election in the specific constituency will announce the results and declare the winner, and if you disagree, you can take the case to court. Nobody has the authority to recount the results because it would be a violation of electoral laws."

Mahdi Jibril told host Kwabena Agyapong that it would be a bad precedent for the EC to re-collate results, make further declarations and follow the law.

He warned that we may be opening the floodgates for disgruntled individuals who have lost elections to call for re-collation in future elections because the EC has claimed results were declared under duress when they have no such authority.

"So what is happening under Jean Mensa in Ghana is unfortunate and uncalled for. That is why the NDC, for the sake of this country and for us to understand the electoral processes, has gone to court to stop the unlawful activities currently going on."