The Electoral Commission (EC) has ordered the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remove their supporters from collation centres, restricting access to only legally designated party agents.

This directive was issued on Tuesday following disruptions during the collation of parliamentary election results, particularly in the Ablekuma North Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

The EC explained that it temporarily halted the collation process to ensure that legal and security protocols, as outlined in Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 127, were adhered to.

Under the law, political parties are allowed to assign two agents to represent them at collation centres, where the collation process is overseen by the Returning Officer and other designated officials.

However, the EC expressed alarm at the escalating presence of party supporters, whose actions have disrupted the process.

“Contrary to legal requirements, political party supporters have besieged some collation centres, physically assaulted our staff, and destroyed property,” said Samuel Tetteh, the EC’s Deputy Director of Operations. “These supporters have also coerced our staff to declare results that do not match the official Pink Sheets.”

The EC reported instances of vandalism, including the destruction of property, burning of ballot papers and Pink Sheets, and obstruction of the collation process in constituencies such as Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Ayensuano.

The Commission strongly condemned these actions, questioning why critical documents necessary to verify election results were being destroyed.

“We urge the political parties to immediately withdraw their supporters from the collation centres,” Tetteh stated.

“We are collaborating with security agencies and party leadership to ensure that the collation process is conducted in accordance with legal procedures.”

The EC reassured the public of its commitment to completing the collation process in the affected constituencies, including Ablekuma North, while upholding the integrity of the electoral framework to reflect the will of voters.

“We are confident that collation in Ablekuma North and other areas will resume shortly, once the necessary legal and security measures are restored,” Tetteh concluded.