President-elect John Mahama has called on Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure fairness and transparency in resolving disputes over the parliamentary results in nine constituencies.

Speaking on the matter, Mahama emphasised the need for the EC to act consistently and uphold established principles, criticising any attempts to alter procedures to suit specific circumstances. He insisted that the rules should be applied uniformly, regardless of the situation.

“There are a few outstanding issues arising from the election. As you are aware, nine constituencies are in dispute, and we believe the Electoral Commission should act in a principled manner,” Mahama said. “You cannot change the rules when it suits you and apply different rules in different circumstances.”

Drawing from past precedents, Mahama referenced the contentious 2020 Techiman South election, where a declaration was made amid chaos and the presence of armed personnel. Despite calls for a re-collation, the EC insisted that once a declaration was made, any grievances should be addressed through the courts, not by the EC itself.

“In the case of Techiman South, despite the chaotic conditions, the Electoral Commission stated that once a declaration had been made, it was no longer their responsibility to adjudicate. The courts were the appropriate place to seek redress,” he said. “We believe the same standard should apply now.”

While acknowledging one constituency where no declaration was made, Mahama affirmed that the EC must decide the appropriate next steps, potentially including a rerun.

Urging the EC to resolve the disputes swiftly, Mahama called for fairness and justice, stressing that clarity on the final election results must be provided as soon as possible. “We believe that there must be fairness and justice in everything we do,” he concluded.

Source:TheDotNews