EC defends recollation of parliamentary results as standard practice, cites past instances

The Electoral Commission has clarified that recollation of election results after their initial declaration is not unprecedented, citing multiple instances in the past where such actions were taken to ensure accuracy and fairness.

According to the EC, in 2004, under the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan, the Commission re-collated and overturned the parliamentary results for the Pru Constituency, ultimately declaring the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate as the rightful Member of Parliament (MP)-Elect, instead of the previously announced New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate.

Similar recollations took place for the Tolon, Yapei-Kusawgu, and Zabzugu constituencies, ensuring that the correct candidates were declared winners.

The Commission also referenced a 1998 incident during District Level Elections in the Dompoase Kokwaado Electoral Area in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District. Following an initial declaration, the results were reviewed and amended to reflect the actual winning candidate.

The Electoral Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process, underscoring that recollation serves as a safeguard against errors and upholds the integrity of elections.

The EC has come under scrutiny, particularly from sympathisers of the opposition NDC, following its decision to carry out a court directive to complete the collation of results for nine constituencies under dispute.

However, the Commission maintained that the earlier declarations made by its returning officers were illegal, as the officers were compelled by certain individuals to declare the results prematurely, before collation had been completed.