The Electoral Commission (EC) on December 21 successfully re-collated and announced results for seven of the nine constituencies contested following the 2024 general elections. This move came after a High Court ruling ordered the commission to re-collate the results due to irregularities in the initial announcements.
The disputed constituencies included Ahafo Ano North, Techiman South, Ahafo Ano South West, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Ablekuma North, and Dome Kwabenya. Following the re-collation, the EC declared results for seven of these constituencies, all in favor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with two constituencies—Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya—remaining pending further advice from the EC’s management.
The re-collation process, conducted under tight security, proceeded without any reported incidents of intimidation or disruption. This was a significant milestone in resolving disputes that had marred the initial results of the parliamentary elections in these constituencies. However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in a statement issued the same day, strongly rejected the outcomes, accusing the EC of acting unlawfully and issuing a warning that electoral malpractices would not go unpunished.
In Ahafo Ano North, the re-collation confirmed the victory of the NPP’s candidate, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, who secured 20,353 votes against his NDC rival Kwasi Adusei’s 20,232 votes. Techiman South also saw the NPP’s Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah declared the winner with 46,663 votes, defeating Christopher Beyere Baasongti of the NDC, who garnered 43,429 votes.
Ahafo Ano South West witnessed one of the closest contests in its history, with the NPP’s Elvis Osei Dapaah emerging victorious with 16,680 votes, narrowly edging out the NDC’s Sedik Abubakar, who obtained 16,540 votes. In Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh of the NPP retained his seat with 29,640 votes, narrowly defeating the NDC candidate, Amenorpe Philbert Fummey, who secured 29,433 votes.
The Obuasi East re-collation confirmed Patrick Boakye-Yiadom of the NPP as the winner, with 18,558 votes. His closest contender, Samuel Aboagye of the NDC, followed closely with 18,539 votes. The Okaikwei Central constituency also saw a reversal of the earlier declaration in favor of the NDC’s Baba Sadiq, with Patrick Yaw Boamah of the NPP officially declared the winner. Boamah secured 21,099 votes, compared to Sadiq’s 19,368 votes.
Tema Central experienced a similar scenario, where the NPP’s Charles Forson was declared the winner after the re-collation exercise overturned an earlier result in favor of the NDC’s Ebi Bright. Forson emerged victorious with 18,870 votes, narrowly surpassing Ebi Bright’s 18,815 votes.
The results for the remaining two constituencies, Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya, were suspended, with the EC stating that further advice from its management would determine the next steps.
The controversies surrounding these constituencies began when the NPP challenged the initial results, citing irregularities in the collation process and alleging procedural breaches. On December 20, the High Court ruled in favor of the NPP, ordering the EC to re-collate and announce the results. The ruling followed a judicial review initiated by six NPP parliamentary candidates who sought a mandamus order compelling the EC to act.
The candidates also requested the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide adequate security at collation centers to ensure the EC could carry out its constitutional duties without interference. The affected constituencies included Tema Central, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Okaikwei Central, Techiman South, Ablekuma North, and Ahafo Ano North.
Despite this ruling, the NDC filed an application at the Supreme Court on December 20, seeking to quash the High Court’s decision and restrain the EC from re-collating the results. However, the EC proceeded with the re-collation exercise, citing its commitment to upholding transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
The judicial ruling also dismissed a motion filed by the NDC seeking to join the case. The court, presided over by Judge Joseph Adu Owusu Agyeman, ruled that the NDC lacked sufficient grounds to be included in the matter.
The controversies deepened when the EC nullified the initial parliamentary results for Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North on December 19, citing procedural breaches and threats to its staff during the collation process. This nullification further fueled tensions between the NPP and NDC, with both parties accusing each other of electoral malpractice.
The EC’s re-collation exercise has been praised by some observers as a demonstration of its commitment to resolving disputes and ensuring fairness in the electoral process. However, critics argue that the events surrounding these constituencies highlight the need for a more robust framework to prevent irregularities and disputes in future elections.
The NDC’s rejection of the re-collated results has further intensified the political climate, with the party threatening legal action to contest the outcomes. The NDC’s legal team, led by Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, has described the EC’s actions as a violation of due process and an affront to democracy.
As Ghana reflects on the 2024 general elections, the events surrounding these nine constituencies underscore the challenges facing the country’s electoral system. Stakeholders have called for reforms to strengthen the transparency and credibility of the process, including enhanced training for electoral officials, stricter enforcement of electoral laws, and greater security at collation centers.
The EC, in its defense, has reiterated its commitment to upholding the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections. It has also called on political parties and their supporters to respect the rules governing the electoral process and to work collaboratively to protect the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
The re-collation exercise and subsequent declarations mark a critical chapter in Ghana’s electoral history. While the process has resolved some disputes, the controversies and legal battles that have followed highlight the need for continued vigilance and accountability in safeguarding the nation’s democratic values.
