Jones de Graft-Darkwa is a Research & Elections Officer at Ablekuma North Constituency
In recent days, Ghanaians have witnessed a troubling and unjustified attack on the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC), led by senior government officials, including the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, Dr. Valerie Esther Sawyer. These officials have publicly called for a rerun of the parliamentary election in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
Let me state emphatically that any talk of a rerun in Ablekuma North, whether for the entire constituency or select polling stations, is completely without justification or constitutional basis.
The EC is the only institution empowered by our Constitution to organize and supervise elections in Ghana. It is an independent body. The recent comments from these high-ranking officials not only undermine that independence but also risk setting a dangerous precedent in which political pressure overrides the law and due process.
The EC has consistently stated that it is ready and willing to execute its constitutional mandate by completing the collation and declaration of the 7 December 2024 parliamentary election results for Ablekuma North. The only impediment has been the lack of adequate security support from the Ghana Police Service. It is, therefore, deeply troubling for anyone, especially government officials, to be calling for a rerun when the lawful process has not been concluded simply due to an apparent failure, or refusal, to guarantee the Commission the security it needs to operate.
Ironically, any rerun (should one occur), would require even greater security arrangements. So why are these calls being made at all? The solution is clear: provide the EC with the protection it needs to do its job and respect the will of the people.
The constituents of Ablekuma North have exercised their constitutional right to vote. The ballots have been cast, and the democratic process must be allowed to conclude. It is not for politicians, regardless of their office, to decide whether an election should be rerun. That authority lies solely with the EC, and only under specific, well-grounded legal circumstances.
Rather than undermine the process with partisan pronouncements, officials like Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Valerie Sawyer should be using their influence to support the EC and urge the Inspector General of Police and the Ghana Police Service to ensure the Commission has the protection it needs to carry out its constitutional duties.
This moment calls for leadership, not political gamesmanship. The EC must be allowed to assert its independence, complete the collation process, and declare the results without further delay. Anything less is a betrayal of our democracy.
It is time to end the charade and put Ghana first.
