Politics of Friday, 20 December 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2024 Election: The 9 outstanding constituencies and why the EC cancelled or ‘stopped’ their declaration

Some of the parliamentary candidates for the 9 outstanding constituencies Some of the parliamentary candidates for the 9 outstanding constituencies

It has been more than 13 days since the December 7, 2024, general elections were held, yet Ghanaians in some constituencies do not know the persons who will be representing them in the incoming 9th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Out of the 276 constituencies that took part in the 2024 parliamentary election, only results from 267 were declared, leaving that of 9 outstanding.

The winners of the parliamentary election for the 9 constituencies in question were either nullified after their declaration or not declared at all by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).

At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, December 19, 2024, the chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa gave reasons why the results for the affected constituencies have not been certified yet.

Here are the 9 constituencies and the reasons their results remain undeclared:

1. Nsawam Adoagyiri:


Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Amenorpe Philbert Fummey

In the Nsawam Adoagyiri Constituency in the Eastern Region, where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) incumbent Member of Parliament Frank Annoh-Dompreh is being challenged by National Democratic Congress’s (NDC’s) Philibert Amenorpe Fummey, the EC boss said the collation of the results was not completed.

She said, “On election day, supporters besieged the collation centre and brought the collation there to a halt. As mentioned, the Commission tried to start to complete the collation process on Friday, December 13. However, when the collation for 143 polling stations had been done, there was an agreement that they should put it on hold until the following day.”

Jean Mensa added, “Sadly, that following day was not to be, and the collation was called off because we were informed by the police service that supporters of the parties were planning to besiege the police depot and to cause disruptions at the centre. We were advised to put it on hold, and so that collation is incomplete, and we cannot declare an outcome.”

2. Ahafo Ano South West:

For the Ahafo Ano South West in the Ahafo Region, where NDC’s Sedik Abubakar is challenging NPP’s Osei Mensah Dapaah Elvis, Jean Mensa said the collation on election day was also disrupted, and no winners were declared.

She added that the collation process for the constituency was “incomplete, and until they are complete, the Commission will not be in the position to declare a winner.”

3. Ahafo Ano North:

The EC boss repeated the same concern for the Ahafo Ano North Constituency, also in the Ahafo Region.

She said, “The collation on election day was also disrupted, and no winners were declared,” adding that the process was “incomplete, and until they are complete, the Commission will not be in the position to declare a winner.” NDC’s Adusei Kwasi is challenging NPP’s Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), for the constituency’s seat.

4. Obuasi East:

The commission indicated that in Obuasi East in the Ashanti Region, its returning officer was forced to declare NDC’s Samuel Aboagye the winner.

“The collation centre was attacked by party supporters, and the returning officer was threatened with an axe. His hands were lifted up, and he was asked to declare a winner when that was not what was reflected on the results collation form. Again, that process was not lawful, and the Commission would not uphold it,” Jean Mensa said.

The candidate for the NPP for Obuasi East was Patrick Boakye-Yiadom.

5. Okaikwei Central:


Baba Sadiq was declared winner of the Okaikwei Central seat

For the Okaikwei Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the commission indicated that NDC’s Baba Sadiq was declared without the results of 31 polling stations of the constituency.

“In the Okaikwei Central, I did mention that 110 polling stations results were used to declare a winner instead of 141. The Commission would not uphold that process,” Jean Mensa said.

Baba Sadiq challenged the NPP incumbent MP for the area, Dr. Patrick Boamah.



6. Ablekuma North:


Ewurabena Aubynn was declared winner of the Ablekuma North seat

The commissioner repeated the concern for the Okaikwei Central Constituency for the Ablekuma North Constituency, also in the Greater Accra Region.

He indicated that NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared winner of the constituency’s seat without the results of 62 polling stations.

“In the Ablekuma North constituency, 219 polling station results were used to declare a winner instead of 281 polling station results. The Commission would not uphold that declaration.”

The NPP’s candidate for the constituency is Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a former MP and the current Deputy Chief Executive of the Coastal Development Authority.

7. Tema Central:


Ebi Bright was declared winner of the Tema Central seat

The commission also nullified the declaration of the Tema Central Constituency, where NDC’s Ebi Bright was declared the winner.

Jean Mensa said, “In Tema Central, the DEO again was threatened, and he was forced to declare results using 146 polling stations instead of 148. The Commission would not uphold that declaration.”

Ebi Bright contested against NPP’s Charles Forson.

8. Techiman South:

For the Techiman South Constituency in the Bono East, the EC boss said that the returning officer was assaulted and forced to declare the results in favour of the NDC candidate.

“The returning officer and other staff were physically assaulted and forced to re-declare the results at gunpoint. It is important to note that the collation process had not been completed. There also, the Commission would not uphold those processes,” she noted.

NDC’s Christopher Beyere Baasongti challenged the incumbent NPP MP and Minister for Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah.

9. Dome Kwabenya:


Elikplim Akurugu was declared winner of the Dome Kwabenya seat:

For the Dome Kwabenya Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the EC indicated that it was investigating the results of 3 polling stations to enable it to make a decision.

Jean Mensa said, “There is some contention with three polling station results. The Commission is carrying out its own investigation with the three polling station results. I believe 367 of those results have been duly declared as legitimate. There are three results that are outstanding, and the Commission is carrying out its own investigations to enable it to make a decision.”

NDC’s Elikplim Akurugu was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat, beating NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr.

BAI/EK

Watch as Jean Mensa addresses issues with 9 constituencies whose results are yet to be declared