Former Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, has cautioned the Electoral Commission (EC) against yielding to what he describes as political intimidation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), following the EC’s announcement of a parliamentary rerun in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency.
Reacting to the EC’s latest decision, he questioned whether the Commission had backtracked on its earlier submission to Parliament due to pressure from the NDC, which he said had previously launched scathing attacks on the Commission’s credibility.
“Not too long ago, the NDC Chairman said the EC was not fit for purpose. I don’t know if that statement made them lose their spine, because this U-turn is shocking. If the NDC decides to walk you out of office, they’ll push until they succeed. That’s why the EC must stand its ground and act responsibly,”he said.
His comments come in the wake of the EC’s July 2 press release, signed by Deputy Chairperson of Operations Samuel Tettey, announcing a rerun of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election in 19 polling stations.
The decision followed a meeting between EC officials and representatives of the two major parties, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress.
The controversy stems from the aftermath of the December 7, 2024, general election. The NDC rejected results from 37 polling stations in the constituency, claiming the scanned Pink Sheets used during collation were unverifiable and had been submitted by the NPP. They demanded a complete rerun in all affected stations.
Conversely, the NPP argued that only three polling stations were left to be collated and insisted that the scanned results had been verified by agents of both parties. The EC later clarified that the original Pink Sheets were destroyed after political party supporters stormed the collation centre, necessitating the use of scanned copies.
While the EC has explained that the rerun in 19 polling stations aims to resolve the dispute and restore confidence in the process, critics, including Mr. Acheampong, believe the Commission’s shift in position reflects weakness in the face of political pressure.
“The EC must operate independently. If you bow to political threats today, you risk undermining the entire institution tomorrow,” Acheampong warned.
The rerun is set for Friday, July 11, 2025, with the Commission assuring the public of its commitment to transparency and fairness. The Ghana Police Service has been tasked with maintaining law and order during the process.
