The collation of parliamentary election results for the Ablekuma North constituency took a dramatic turn on Friday when suspected thugs, allegedly affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stormed the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC). The incident occurred as media personnel and officials awaited the resumption of the collation process, which had been repeatedly delayed due to disputes over the verification of pink sheets.
Over 40 individuals forcefully entered the collation centre, ordering everyone to leave before proceeding to vandalize the premises. Eyewitnesses reported the destruction of property, including louvre blades and doors. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the act has raised serious concerns about the security of the electoral process and the integrity of the results in Ablekuma North.
This latest disruption adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious situation. The collation process has been suspended multiple times since January 8th, 2025, when the Returning Officer, Vincent Obeng, resigned following disagreements over the authentication of pink sheets. Obeng's resignation, while described as "unfortunate" by Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the EC’s Director of Training, has left the process in limbo.
The core of the dispute lies in the verification of results from three remaining polling stations out of a total of 281. The NDC, represented by Musah Kalamu, the constituency organiser, has objected to the use of scanned pink sheets and called for a rerun in 62 polling stations. While 59 of these have been verified, the remaining three remain points of contention between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NPP, represented by its Director of Research and Elections, Evans Nimako, and its parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriye, maintains confidence in the integrity of the process and expects the true results to prevail. The contest for the parliamentary seat is between Nana Akua Owusu Afriye (NPP) and Ewurabena Aubynn (NDC), with tensions running high as the constituency awaits the final outcome.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the attack, and it is unclear whether any arrests have been made. The incident underscores the fragility of the electoral process in Ablekuma North and raises serious questions about the ability of the EC to ensure a fair and transparent conclusion to the election.
The ongoing disputes and the violent disruption of the collation process threaten to undermine public confidence in the electoral system. The need for a swift and decisive response from the authorities is paramount to restoring faith in the democratic process.
