Justin Kodua Frimpong
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) of acting in the interest of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), following the Commission’s decision to re-run parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency.
At a press conference last Thursday, NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, claimed the EC’s move was a direct response to recent threats by the NDC, particularly its National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who recently called for the dismissal of the current EC leadership.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, cited alleged irregularities in the 2024 parliamentary elections, particularly in Ablekuma North, as grounds to demand the removal of the EC Chairperson and her two deputies. According to him, the Commission failed to manage the polls credibly, compromising public confidence in the electoral process.
However, Mr. Kodua described the EC’s decision to re-run elections in 19 polling stations—despite earlier agreement that only three polling station results needed to be collated—as a suspicious volte-face aimed at placating the NDC and preserving the jobs of the EC commissioners.
“The only logical deduction that can be drawn from the EC’s sudden U-turn is that the commissioners are yielding to pressure and threats from the NDC government. It appears they are doing the bidding of the NDC in the hope of securing their positions,” Kodua said.
He warned that the alleged collusion between the EC and the NDC sets a dangerous precedent for electoral management in Ghana. If not checked, he cautioned, it could embolden political actors to orchestrate violence and destroy electoral materials, only to push for re-runs in areas where their candidates are trailing.
Kodua listed several constituencies, including Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, Fanteakwa North, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, and Techiman South, where he alleged NDC-affiliated thugs disrupted collation processes, destroyed electoral materials, and in some cases, coerced EC officials into declaring NDC candidates as winners.
Focusing on Ablekuma North, he alleged that video evidence exists showing NDC operatives destroying pink sheets belonging to the NPP and the EC, while the NDC’s own documents remained intact.
“Where are the NDC’s pink sheets? Why are they refusing to present them to confirm the results of the polling stations they claim to have won? Not a single footage shows their documents were destroyed. That alone raises serious questions,” Kodua insisted.
He argued that the EC is empowered by law, including the Evidence Act and the Electronic Transactions Act, to use scanned copies of pink sheets as valid proof in determining results, and thus sees no justification for a re-run.
The NPP is calling on Ghanaians, civil society organisations, the National Peace Council, traditional and religious leaders to intervene and call both the EC and the NDC to order, to prevent future chaos in Ghana’s electoral process.
“The outcome of elections in Ghana cannot and must not be decided by orchestrated thuggery or political pressure. It must solely reflect the will of the people as expressed through valid votes,” he emphasised.
Mr. Kodua also reminded the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, and her deputies of their constitutional duty to remain impartial, stating: “Article 46 of the Constitution guarantees the independence of the Electoral Commission. In the performance of its functions, it shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority—certainly not Asiedu Nketia and not the NDC.”
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah