Electoral Commission Faces Backlash Over Inconsistent Re-collation of Parliamentary Results

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is facing significant public backlash following its decision to re-collate parliamentary election results in nine constituencies after the December 7, 2024 elections. Critics argue that this move contradicts the EC’s previous stance during the 2020 elections, where it emphasized that “elections are won at the polling stations,” rejecting similar re-collation requests.

In 2020, the EC dismissed calls for re-collation, maintaining that results declared at polling stations were final. However, in the recent elections, the EC has initiated re-collation in constituencies with disputed results, citing the need to ensure accuracy and transparency. This shift has led to accusations of inconsistency and partiality.

This is very disingenuous. Every election operates under a CI. The CIs prior to 2020 allowed for re-collation. But the CI Jean presented to Parl does not allow re-collation. It is the reason you asked the NDC in 2020 to go to court when they wanted re-collation of Techiman South. 

Legal experts and political figures have expressed concerns over the EC’s actions. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi, labeled the re-collation as unlawful, arguing it breaches Ghana’s electoral laws. Similarly, the Ghana Institute of Governance and Security (GIGS) criticized the move as a violation of electoral procedures.

Public sentiment mirrors these criticisms, with many Ghanaians expressing frustration over the EC’s perceived inconsistency. Social media platforms are rife with comments accusing the EC of bias and undermining democratic processes. Hashtags like #ECMUSTRESIGN are gaining traction, reflecting the growing public discontent.

The EC’s current approach could set a concerning precedent, potentially eroding public trust in electoral processes. Inconsistent application of procedures may lead to perceptions of partiality, undermining the credibility of future elections. To maintain public confidence, it is imperative for the EC to adhere strictly to established legal frameworks and ensure transparency in all its actions.

Some of the comments shared on the EC’s post read:

Theophilus Berchie @theoberchie: Last 4 years when NDC wanted recollation – if you’ve issues with election results go to court

Next 4 years when Npp wants recollation – if you’ve issues with election results come let’s recollate for you

Zero consistency and fairness

Double E.kT @Lero_LR said: What happened in 2020? You’re setting a dangerous precedent for all Ghanaians. You don’t enforce rules only when it suits you. This commission is utterly incompetent.

If you want to justify what you doing don’t be selective in your agenda. Come clean on all instances of
What happened in Techiman
What happened in 2016/2020 when elections were declared under duress
You empathically told the NDC to go to court

READ:‘I will make sure Central region turns green by winning convincingly in both the presidential and parliamentary elections’- Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang

The complaints by Ghanaians highlight concerns about the Electoral Commission’s perceived inconsistency and lack of neutrality regarding the re-collation of parliamentary results. Critics point out the following issues:

1. Precedent and Consistency: Many are questioning why the EC is not adhering to its 2020 stance that “elections are won at polling stations” and rejecting re-collation requests. This inconsistency has led to doubts about the EC’s credibility.
2. Neutrality and Bias: The EC is accused of behaving like a political entity rather than a neutral institution, engaging in actions and justifications that align with partisan interests.
3. Excessive Explanations: Some critics argue that the EC’s need to overly explain its actions suggests a lack of confidence in its decisions.
4. Lack of Transparency: The EC’s handling of similar issues in different ways raises concerns about transparency and fairness.
5. Calls for Resignation: Dissatisfaction with the EC chairperson’s leadership has led to public calls for resignation, with a petition already gaining significant support.

The overarching sentiment is a loss of trust in the EC’s ability to maintain impartiality and uphold electoral integrity.