The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has commented on the re-collation exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC) on December 21, 2024, to resolve nine disputed constituencies.
The party raised issues over the handling of the exercise by the EC, describing the outcome as a “worrying development.”
The EC has re-collated and re-declared parliamentary results in seven out of the nine outstanding constituencies.
The remaining two constituencies are Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North.
After the re-collation, all seven results were declared in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The PPP, in a statement, acknowledged the independence of the Electoral Commission but reminded the EC of its obligation to operate within the confines of its established structures and legal framework.
“We take notice of the independence of the Electoral Commission but also wish to remind it that it must respect its own structures and the laws under which it operates,” the statement read.
The party highlighted specific issues in constituencies where declarations were not made, urging the police to support the EC in completing the electoral process in those areas.
“In some constituencies, there were no declarations at all. We urge the police to back the EC to finalize the process and make the necessary declarations,” the statement emphasized.
However, the PPP strongly opposed the EC’s reported intention to conduct a re-collation and fresh declarations in constituencies where results had already been officially declared. The party argued that such actions were not provided for under C.I. 127, the legal instrument guiding the 2024 elections.
“Nowhere in the C.I. 127 is the word ‘re-collation’ mentioned, nor is there any provision giving the Electoral Commission the power to take such steps after designated returning officers have declared results in those constituencies,” the PPP asserted.
The party further reminded dissatisfied candidates of the appropriate legal avenues for challenging declared results. According to the PPP, the law provides for such individuals to seek redress through the High Court.
“We call upon the Electoral Commission to desist from meddling in the affairs of already declared constituency elections and allow aggrieved candidates to pursue legal remedies,” the statement added.