A group of individuals suspected to be affiliated with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) reportedly caused chaos at the Greater Accra Regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC). The incident occurred on Friday, 17 January, as the final collation of parliamentary results for the disputed Ablekuma North Constituency was set to take place.
Witnesses described the group, numbering around 40 members, as wearing the party’s colours and chanting slogans in support of the NDC’s parliamentary candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn. They reportedly arrived at the office and proceeded to threaten and drive away media personnel and officials who were preparing for the collation exercise. The perpetrators then went on to vandalize office property, including louvre blades, doors, and other items.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear if any arrests have been made in connection with the disruption. The Ablekuma North Constituency is the only constituency from the 2024 general election that remains disputed, leading to tensions between supporters of the NDC and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The previous attempt to complete the collation process on 8 January was also marred by disagreements and delays, following the resignation of the Returning Officer, Vincent Obeng. The dispute centered around the verification of pink sheets, with results from 278 out of 281 polling stations being verified. However, the results from three polling stations are still contested by both the NDC and the NPP.
The parliamentary seat in Ablekuma North is fiercely contested by Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie of the NPP and Ewurabena Aubynn of the NDC, with both parties claiming victory in the election. The resumption of the collation exercise was expected to provide clarity and resolve the controversy surrounding the final result.
The incident at the Electoral Commission’s office has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the need for peaceful resolution of disputes. It is imperative for all parties involved to respect the rule of law and allow the electoral commission to carry out its duties without interference.
