The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Greater Accra Organiser of leading thugs to disrupt a collation exercise for the Ablekuma North constituency. 

A statement signed by the commission's Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman, Operations, said the attack on their office and personnel took place today, Friday, January 17, 2025.

The EC said, also, police had earlier cautioned them against the collation happening today in light of an intelligence received. 

"The Police, however, did not augment security at the premises of the Collation Centre (Old Head Office) and the new Corporate Head Office leading to some party supporters invading the Old Head Office of the Commission and destroying the property of the Commission including fumiture and louvre blades," the EC added.

Read the entire statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

17h January, 2025

UPDATE ON THE COLLATION OF POLLING STATION RESULTS FOR THE ABLEKUMA.NORTH CONSTITUENCY

The Electoral Commission wishes to bring to the attention of the General Public that, following the Order.of the High Court on 4th January, 2025 directing the Commission to continue the collation of Polling Station results and declare the winners of the four outstanding Parliamentary Elections, the only Constituency still outstanding is Ablekuma North. It is instructive to state that the order of the High Court mandated the Ghana Police Service to provide the Electoral Commission security to conduct the collation of Polling Station results for the outstanding Constituencies.

The collation of Polling Station results for Ablekuma North took place on the 8 of January, 2025 at the Old Head Office of the Commission. However, the exercise was not completed because three out of the 281 Polling Station results were outstanding. The Commission wrote to the Ghana Police Service for the continuation of the collation on the 17th of January, 2025 at 8:00 am. On the day the collation was expected to take place, the Commission was alerted by the Police that per the intelligence available to then the exercise should be put on hold.

The Police however did not augment security at the premises of the Collation Centre (Old Head Office) and the new Corporate Head Office leading to some party supporters invading the Old Head Office of the Commission and destroying the property of the Commission including fumiture and louvre blades. Some of the supporters also invaded the premises of the New Corporate Head Office of the Commission on motor bicycles. They issued threats to the Commission and the staff. This instilled fear in the staff and caused all staff members to flee because the environment had become unsafe as a result of the invasion.

As a result of this, work has come to a standstill.

It is instructive to note that, the supporters were led by the Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Our staff also identified two men in military uniform without names in the company of the supporters.

We call on the Police to swiftly bring the perpetrators to book by identifying, arresting and prosecuting them. Video footages are available showing the faces of the perpetrators of these heinous acts.

Once again we call on the Government to engage the Ghana Police Service to ensure that the Commission is provided adequate security to enable us to go to the Office and carry out our functions in a safe and secure environment. The threats to lives and property are unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue. The Commission is working round the clock to ensure that the people of Ablekuma North have their Member of Parliament. We need the cooperation of the Police to enable us achieve this.

Thank you.

Samuel Tettey

Deputy Chairman, Operations