The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has temporarily halted the collation of parliamentary election results in the Ablekuma North constituency, following a dispute over the validity of some pink sheets.

The suspension will allow the EC to review 21 out of 62 pink sheets submitted for polling station results. The EC has stated that the process will resume within 24 hours after verifying the disputed documents.

The controversy arose after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) submitted scanned copies of the pink sheets, prompting objections from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which claimed the documents were incomplete and unacceptable for the collation process. Of the 62 pink sheets submitted by the NPP, the EC accepted 41 and rejected 21, citing concerns about their credibility.

In response to the dispute, the NDC withdrew from the process, forcing the EC to suspend the collation. Vincent Obeng, the Returning Officer for Ablekuma North, emphasized that the verification of the disputed pink sheets was essential to maintaining the integrity of the election.

This suspension follows a High Court ruling on January 4, 2025, which directed the EC to complete the collation of results for four constituencies, including Ablekuma North, by January 6. The ruling came after mandamus applications were filed by NPP candidates, claiming the EC had failed to meet its legal obligations.

While results for three of the constituencies—Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, and Techiman South—have been declared in favor of the NPP, Ablekuma North remains the only constituency yet to finalize its results.

The dispute highlights growing tensions between the NPP and NDC over the election process, with both parties calling for greater transparency and fairness in the collation of results. The EC’s resolution of the pink sheet issue will be crucial in determining the final outcome for Ablekuma North.

Source:TheDotNews