Tensions are mounting at the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, as the re-collation of parliamentary election results for four constituencies—Suhum, Nsawam, Fanteakwa North, and Akwatia—proceeds under tight security.
The Electoral Commission (EC) relocated the process to Tesano after initial attempts to finalize the collation in the Eastern Region were unsuccessful. The disputes stem from disagreements between party agents and EC officials over the accuracy and integrity of the original results, leading to a stalemate.
The relocation has sparked mixed reactions. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process, arguing that moving the collation undermines the credibility of the electoral exercise. On the other hand, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has backed the EC’s decision, describing it as a necessary step to ensure accuracy and maintain order.
Dr. Peter Otokunor, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accused the EC of being biased as the commission has proceeded with the recollection without their party representatives.
“The NDC for Suhum, Nsawam, Fanteakwa North and Akwatia, were invited to the National Training Centre of the Ghana Police Service to continue with the collation process that has happened. They had gone to the regional office in Koforidua, but they couldn’t do it. So they have brought it here.
“So, last night, they called our party officials to gather this morning. Incidentally, our officers from Nsawam and Suhum are all here except Akwatia, who is not here. I got here, and they have started the collation without them. So, I approached the officers and asked why they started the collation exercise without the main opponents in the elections.
“You are having a contention between two parties in the election, then you call only one party and you do the collation without them. It is not done. So, they must stop the process so that the other parties can come, and then they start.
“Our laws state clearly that our collation must involve all parties that contested the election. I have since gone to the regional director and pleaded to give us two hours to get our officers here and he has refused, saying it is an order from above,” he stated.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened at the collation centre.
