The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has asserted that only returning officers at the constituency levels have the authority to pronounce the outcomes of parliamentary elections.
Speaking to the press in Accra on Friday, December 13, 2024, he emphasised that regional directors of the Electoral Commission (EC) do not have the power to declare results for constituency elections.
“The district officers, if they are not designated, cannot announce or declare the results of parliamentary elections. Returning officers, while designated before the election, are trusted to speak the truth and declare everything. Those returning officers who claim they declared one set of results in the constituency under duress and now, before their superiors, declare a different set, are acting improperly,” he stated.
He explained that polling stations must report specific figures, both by name and code, and all political parties that possess copies of the pink sheets must verify these figures.
“All parties that have copies of the pink sheets will verify and check whether the figures on their copies match what the Electoral Commission is announcing. This provision is designed to hold EC officers accountable and prevent fraudulent practices during the election,” he noted.
The NDC National Chairman further criticised attempts to alter declared results, citing the Fanteakwa incident at the Police Training Depot, where a different individual, not the designated returning officer, declared results.
“The Fanteakwa Constituency incident, where a different individual declared results at the Police Training Depot, is an outright violation of the law,” he condemned, explaining that such practices threaten the credibility of the EC.
Asiedu Nketiah advised chiefs not to engage in partisan politics, stressing the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions.
“The constitution provides that nananom should not be involved in active partisan politics. If they choose to descend into the arena of controversy, they know the consequences will be obvious,” he warned.
He also warned of legal consequences for EC officials involved in such irregularities, stressing that the next government would work to restore confidence in the EC.
“We will take legal action against EC officials who engage in such activities. The next government will work to restore the credibility of the Electoral Commission, and the confidence Ghanaians had in our commission before the advent of Madam Jean,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the NDC has allegedly secured a court injunction to halt the re-collation of parliamentary results for the Nsawam Adoagyiri constituency.
This follows growing tensions and allegations of discrepancies in the election results.
JKB/AE
After the December 2024 polls, there have been security concerns across the country. Catch Etsey Atisu’s interview with security analyst, Adib Saani, on Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV below:
