Jean Mensa
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has called on the public to exercise restraint as it works with its officers at the regional collation centres to effectively deliver the results of the presidential election to Ghanaians.
She said the Commission has over the years put in robust mechanisms to deliver results as expected of them, even before the 72 hours deadline.
According to her, the Commission will only be able to declare presidential results from the regional collation centres if they were received on time, even though it was able to declare results within 48 hours in the 2020 elections.
“I would like to ask that citizens to exercise patience. It’s just been 23 hours since the close of polls. The process is elaborate, it is inclusive, it involves the political parties and observers at every step, and the whole idea is to ensure that what comes up at the end of the day has been inclusive,” she said during a press conference yesterday at the EC headquarters.
She indicated that the collation process for the results does not stop at the polling station, neither does it stop at the receipt of pink sheets from the polling stations, but an elaborate process that involves the political party agents at every step of the electoral process.
“It involves the observers, the media as well as citizens. The process emanates from the pink sheets and it’s important to note that the pink sheets form the basis of the results that are announced; whether it is at the constituency level for parliamentary candidates or whether it is at the national level for presidential candidates. It starts and emanates from the pink sheets at the polling station,” she stated.
Madam Mensa further mentioned that given the Commission’s track record of accountability and transparency in conducting elections in the past, which is evident in the just-ended election, it will provide the public with all certified results from the regions.
“We assure the citizens that we’ll work hard in their interest as our key stakeholders to ensure that every vote that is cast at the polling station counts,” she added.
Also present at the press briefing were international and local observer missions.
Ahafo
Meanwhile, the EC, announcing the results received from the Ahafo Region, said the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama polled 130,106 votes while Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) obtained 113,851 votes, as certified results for the Ahafo Region.
Christian Kwabena Andrews polled 22, Kofi Akpaloo, 70, Mohammed Frimpong, 56, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), 349, Hassan Abdulai Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), 367, independent presidential candidate, Kofi Koranteng, 39, and George Twum Barima Adu, 27.
The rest are Nana Kwame Bediako of the New Force, 1,731 and Alan Kyerematen, 441.
The results received by the EC at about 3pm yesterday were confirmed by the representatives of the political parties present.
The political parties include Convention People’s Party (CPP), New Patriotic Party (NPP), George Twum Barima, Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), NPP, Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Nana Kwame Bediako, Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and independent candidate Kofi Koranteng.
Officials of the Electoral Commission, after receiving the results from the regional collation centres, presented two copies each to the representatives of the political parties who, after going through, either confirm or reject for further clarification before signing, and finally signed by the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah