Mahama Warns EC Boss

Former President John Dramani Mahama has warned Electoral Commission (EC) headed by Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa against rushing to declare the results of the December 7 general elections.

According to Mr. Mahama, the Commission must be law-abiding and follow the procedures as stated by the Constitution of Ghana.

“We are not declaring any result; we are not rushing to declare any results just to achieve a 24-hour limit. The law states the period for which the results are to be transmitted and that is what we might abide by.”

“What are you in a rush for? Is there something we do not know?” he quizzed.

24hr Deadline?

The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) comment follows a declaration by the Director of Electoral Services, Dr Serebour Quaicoe that the EC will ensure that the results of the 2020 December polls are released 24 hours after voting closes.

“All things being equal, we are hoping that before we go to bed on the 8th of December, we would have come out with the presidential results,” he said.

But Mr. Mahama who has already served notice that he would not accept the results of any flawed election speaking to veteran journalist, Kwesi Pratt in an interview doubts the motive behind the 24-hour ‘rush’.

To the NDC flagbearer, the Commission has an ulterior motive in its 24-hour decision to declare election results after breaching several legalities.

“We have intelligence that they want to declare some results very quickly and jubilate. And if we protest, they will say go to court.

“The processes leading to the election have been flawed in so many ways. The EC has breached its legal rules so many times. They say 30,000 names have been removed from the register. Those whose names have been removed, we do not know,” he said.

Unrealistic

Mr. Mahama reiterated that the long and tedious processes the EC will be involved in will make it impossible to attain a 24-hour target.

“They will collate at the Constituency level. The tally sheets after they have been signed will be sent to the Regional Collation Centre and there again, will be re-tallied before the final result is transmitted to the EC.

“So, you cannot come and say you intend to declare a winner of an election in 24 hours,” he stated.

Mr. Mahama is not alone in his objection to the EC’s  24-hour declaration of results.

The Party’s Director of Elections, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah at a recent news conference berated the Commission, describing the idea as unrealistic.

In his view, these unrealistic expectations created by the EC might force them to “cook numbers” if they are unable to announce it within that timeframe.

He said, “They are creating unrealistic expectations and then when the day comes and by that time, they are not able to announce the results, what will they do?

“Are they going to force numbers? Are they going to cook numbers? Are they going to announce anything at all just because they want to meet an unrealistic 24-hour timeline?” he quizzed.

Mr. Ankrah continued: “These are the things they do and then they create problems for everybody, nobody has put a gun to their head. It is important to have a timely result but it is better to have accurate, truthful results that reflect what the people voted for.”