President-elect John Dramani Mahama has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to uphold fairness, consistency, and integrity in managing disputed parliamentary results.
His remarks come in response to the EC’s decision not to uphold declarations in nine constituencies, citing that some results were announced under duress. The affected areas include Ablekuma North, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Techiman South, and Dome-Kwabenya, among others.
Mr. Mahama speaking to African ambassadors and commissioners on Friday, December 20, criticized the EC for what he sees as selective rule enforcement, highlighting inconsistencies in how similar cases have been handled. He referenced the 2020 general elections in Techiman South, where the EC declared parliamentary results despite objections and reported irregularities.
He also questioned the commission’s suspension of re-collation in the disputed constituencies, arguing that this decision, based on procedural breaches and staff safety concerns, undermines public trust and the credibility of Ghana’s electoral process. He emphasized on the need for transparency and fairness in the EC’s operations, urging the commission to engage all political stakeholders to ensure justice is both delivered and perceived.
He reiterated the importance of protecting Ghana’s democratic institutions, insisting that the EC’s actions should inspire confidence domestically and internationally. He criticized the shifting of standards based on circumstances and pointed out inconsistencies in how the EC has addressed similar issues in the past. For instance, he noted that during the 2020 elections, the EC dismissed calls for re-collation in Techiman South despite claims of duress, instead directed aggrieved parties to seek redress in court and called for principled decision-making to promote fairness and justice.
