Security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for its decision to suspend the re-collation of parliamentary results in nine constituencies, citing procedural breaches and threats to its staff. He described the move as essential to prevent further conflicts and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
On Thursday, December 19, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa reaffirmed that the results for constituencies such as Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North would not be validated. The decision came after disruptions in the re-collation process, which the EC attributed to interference by political party agents.
The affected constituencies include:
- Dome Kwabenya
- Okaikwei Central
- Ablekuma North
- Techiman South
- Suhum
- Akwatia
- Fanteakwa North
- Ahafo Ano North
- Tema Central
The re-collation was initially ordered to address irregularities observed during the initial collation. However, actions by political party agents disrupted the process, prompting the EC to halt it. The Commission condemned the interference, emphasizing its impact on the finalisation and announcement of results.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Prof. Aning supported the EC’s decision, stating, “Stopping the process entirely is the appropriate step. This is because the available information suggests that tensions are still high.” He highlighted the potential risks of continuing the re-collation under volatile conditions.
Prof. Aning also pointed out concerns about the readiness of security agencies to ensure a peaceful electoral process. Although law enforcement had managed to control isolated incidents of chaos, he noted that criticism from the EC regarding election security had raised questions about their capacity to provide adequate protection.
“Law enforcers have managed to bring the random acts of indiscipline and chaos under control, but it looks to me as if the criticism from the EC towards the election security has raised concerns,” he remarked.
The suspension of the re-collation underscores the need for collaborative efforts among the EC, political parties, and security agencies to safeguard the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
