The Electoral Commission (EC) has clarified its decision to relocate the collation centres for some 12 constituencies to the National Police Training School (NPTS), saying it was made following recommendations from the Ghana Police Service.
This decision, according to the EC, was taken to ensure the safety of its staff and maintain the integrity of the electoral process amid escalating threats and disruptions.
At a press conference on Thursday, December 19, Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the EC, cited the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies as specific examples.
She explained that the relocation of these collation centres to the EC’s Greater Accra Regional Office was a necessary step to safeguard personnel and protect the process from interference.
Jean Mensa elaborated that to ensure transparency and fairness, the EC communicated the changes to all political parties and provided clear guidelines for representation at the new collation centres but those guidelines were flouted leading to the discontinuation.
“In a number of instances, our staff have been threatened with death and forced to declare outcomes without adhering to the processes governing collation. It is instructive to note that the EC has held discussions with the Ghana Police Service and had requested protection in areas where collations were supposed to have continued but some of our staff were still threatened.
“Due to the threats faced by our staff and the disruption of the processes, the EC agreed with the Ghana Police Service to relocate the collation centres from the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies to the EC’s Greater Accra Regional Office, and it was agreed that each political party will present two agents, and the political parties were notified accordingly.”
Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central collation will not be accepted – EC
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