Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (“CARE” GHANA) has expressed deep concerns over what it describes as the Electoral Commission's (EC) mishandling of the collation process in the Ablekuma North Constituency.

This follows a High Court directive for the EC to complete the collation of results in four Constituencies, including Ablekuma North.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, David Kumi Addo, “CARE” GHANA accused the EC of irregularities and a lack of transparency in the collation exercise.

The advocacy group alleged that the EC has resorted to questionable methods after admitting that all original pink sheets from the 281 polling centres in the Constituency were lost due to disruptions at the collation centre.

According to “CARE” GHANA, the EC has fabricated pink sheets from 62 polling stations to complete the collation process. These documents, the group claims, bear no resemblance to the original records.

The EC has reportedly refused to share these fabricated pink sheets with key stakeholders, including political parties, parliamentary candidates, and the media.

Even more troubling, the statement noted, is that some EC officials have rejected the authenticity of the fabricated results, citing an inability to confirm their accuracy.

The controversy has been further exacerbated by the resignation of the Returning Officer for the Ablekuma North Constituency, who was tasked with overseeing the collation and declaration of results.

''CARE” GHANA has outlined four key demands to address the situation:

Immediate Suspension of the Collation Process: The group has called for the collation exercise to be halted until a transparent and credible framework is established. Accountability and Explanation: The EC must publicly explain how it intends to complete the collation process and share its methods with stakeholders, including the media and political parties. Independent Review: The group has urged for an independent investigation into the alleged fabrication of pink sheets and to hold responsible parties accountable. Rerun in 62 Polling Centers: Given the loss of original pink sheets and doubts surrounding the EC's actions, “CARE” GHANA insists that a rerun in the affected polling centres is the only way to ensure fairness and restore public confidence.

The statement from “CARE” GHANA emphasized that the EC’s actions threaten the principles of democracy and erode public trust in the electoral process.

The group has called on all stakeholders, including civil society organizations and political parties, to demand accountability and ensure the people’s will is respected.