The Electoral Commission (EC) has clarified that the re-collation of results at the Tesano Police Depot is not illegal and falls within its mandate.
This statement was made by Samuel Tettey, Deputy EC Chair for Operations, in response to allegations that the choice of the Tesano Police Depot as the venue for the re-collation was unlawful, at a press conference in Accra on Friday, December 13, 2024.
“It is instructive to note that as a result of the disruptions that took place during the re-collation and to ensure the safety and security of our staff and the collation and declaration processes, the commission agreed with the Ghana Police Service to relocate the collation to the Tesano Police Depot. The commission duly informed the political party leadership to provide the names of two agents as required by law,” Tettey stated.
He said the re-collation at the police depot was observed by party agents for four constituencies: Fanteakwa North, Suhum, Akwatia, and Nsawam Adoagyiri. With the exception of the Nsawam Adoagyiri constituency, the re-collation was successful.
Tettey said the process stalled because the police indicated that the environment was not conducive to providing security in light of the impending threats by political party supporters as per their analysis, there could be a loss of lives if the re-collation was allowed to continue.
He maintained that the re-collation was not illegal and was within its mandate.
“The EC has maintained however that the recollation is not illegal and within its mandate. Some have alleged that the choice of the Tesano Police Depot as the venue for the recollation is illegal. This is false as the commission is not required by law to gazette collation centres. What’s important is for the commission to inform the parties about the collation centres which has been done.”
“…We urged all stakeholders especially the political parties to cooperate with the commission to complete the process in the following areas Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Techiman South, Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North and Tema Central,” Tettey said.
