The Electoral Commission (EC) has criticized the National Elections Security Taskforce for failing to provide adequate protection for its staff during the collation and declaration of parliamentary results for nine constituencies from the December 7 elections.
The affected constituencies include Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, Techiman South, and Dome Kwabenya.
The EC noted that collation in some of these constituencies was improperly conducted at the local level, prompting the need for a re-collation at the national level. This exercise was scheduled to take place at the Tesano Police Training School in Accra but has since been suspended due to what the EC described as inadequate security.
At a press conference, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa voiced her concerns about the lack of effective security measures to protect staff. “As seen on TV, there have been images showing our staff being threatened and pressured to declare results from incomplete collation processes,” she said. “This occurred in the presence of the police. Although the police were stationed at all collation centers, political party supporters managed to breach security and disrupt the collation process.”
