The Electoral Commission has vehemently parried statements claiming it has been influenced by high-ranking government officials to make a u-turn on its initial position on the controversial Ablekuma North parliamentary election results.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Thursday, July 10, 2025, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Deputy Chairperson, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, described the claims as “unfounded”.
“We state categorically that Ghana’s Electoral Management Body (EMB) is independent and will not be dictated to by any person or institution.
“Our track record speaks for itself,” the Deputy Chairperson added.
The EC announced a rerun in 19 polling stations after security concerns prevented the collation of results in parts of the constituency during the December 2024 parliamentary elections.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Afriyie, who is making a comeback, will go head-to-head again against the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn to find a lawmaker to represent the constituency.
Dr. Eric Bossman Asare had told Paarliament a couple of weeks ago that, the Commission was prepared to declare the results of the parliamentary polls held there in December 7, 2024 but needed security assurance from the Ghana Police Service to do so.
In a sudden turnaround, however, the Commission announced a re-run of the election in 19 polling stations on Friday July 11, 2025.
This raised concerns from some political commentators, particularly those of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who claimed the Commission’s sudden u-turn might have been influenced by officers of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) who have been calling for the dismissal of the Commissioners.
Addressing the media, however, he said, the allegations were untrue and stated: “The Ghana Police Service and the National Election Security Taskforce (NEST), have assured the Commission of their readiness to ensure security before, during and after the Rerun.”
“We count on them to guarantee that lives and property are protected and that voters and our staff vote and work in a safe and conducive environment,” he expressed.
Dr Asare noted further: “The aftermath of the 7th December Election and the processes to complete the collation in 12 constituencies have created fear not only in our staff but voters in general.”
“We trust that the NEST will provide the needed security before, during and after the process so we can vote and work in peace.”
According to the Deputy head of the election management body, they are “desirous of bringing the election in the Ablekuman North Constituency to a conclusion and to the ensure that the Constituents have a representative in Parliament.”
“We have thus provided a path to complete the collation process so as to ensure that the residents of Ablekuma North have a representative in Paarliament.
“We assure the public and the political parties that as always, we will live by our motto and ensure that the rerun is fair, transparent and credible. We wish the two contestants the best of luck at the polls tomorrow Friday, the 11th of July, 2025.”
