Prof. Kwaku Azar Asare, a democracy and development fellow at CDD-Ghana has noted that the publication of presidential election results in the official gazette has historically followed closely after the Electoral Commission’s (EC) formal declaration of the results.
He argued that, given this well-established precedent, it is reasonable to expect that the results of the 2024 presidential election, which were declared on December 9, 2024, would have been gazetted by now.
The delay in gazetting the results, he suggested, raises questions about adherence to established electoral protocols and the transparency of the process.
Prof. Asare emphasized that timely publication in the gazette is a critical step in formalizing election outcomes and reinforcing public trust in the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system.
“Notably, in 2012, the EC declared the presidential election results on December 9, 2012, and the results were gazetted on December 11, 2012—just two days later.
“Similarly, in 2020, the results were declared on December 9, 2020, and gazetted promptly on December 10, 2020, reflecting an even faster timeline of one day”.
Prof. Kwaku Azar Asare
Prof. Asare further highlighted historical precedents to underscore the importance of timely gazetting of presidential election results.
He noted that for the 2016 presidential election, the Electoral Commission (EC) issued Constitutional Instrument (CI) 103 to officially declare the results on December 12, 2016.
He indicated that just two days later, on December 14, 2016, the Gazette Notification of the election outcome was published, demonstrating a swift and efficient process.
Asare also referenced the 2000 runoff election, which was held on December 28. In that instance, the Gazette Notification of the results was issued on January 5, 2001, just eight days after the election.
Interestingly, this gazette date coincided with the issuance of CI 32 — the Declaration of the President-elect instrument — indicating a coordinated effort to ensure prompt publication of the results.
These examples, Asare argued, establish a clear pattern of prompt gazetting of presidential election results, reinforcing the expectation that the 2024 results should have already been published.
2024 Election Results Gazette Absent on EC Portal
Prof. Kwaku Azar Asare expressed concern over the apparent absence of the official gazette publication of the 2024 presidential election results.
As of today, 20th December 2024, he noted that he could not locate the gazette on the Electoral Commission’s (EC) official website or in any media reports.
He speculated that it is possible the gazette has already been published but is simply difficult to access.
If that is the case, Asare suggested that the EC should make it more accessible to the public.
“Or perhaps, it is delayed, which will raise pertinent questions: Is it due to administrative bottlenecks, pending legal formalities, or possibly unforeseen circumstances within the EC or Government Printing Department?”
Prof. Kwaku Azar Asare
Prof. Asare emphasized the critical importance of clarity and transparency in the electoral process.
He noted that whether the gazette has been published and is simply difficult to access or it has not been published at all, the lack of clear information remains a concern.
He stressed that transparency and strict adherence to legal timelines are essential for maintaining public trust in Ghana’s electoral system.
He emphasized that the timely publication of the presidential election results in the official gazette is not just a procedural formality; it plays a crucial role in post-election processes.
According to Asare, delays in gazetting the results could have significant implications, particularly for the timeframe within which electoral petitions can be filed.
He explained that certain legal deadlines for disputing election results are triggered by the date of the gazette’s publication.
Asare cautioned that, therefore, any unnecessary delays could disrupt the legal process, hinder timely access to justice, and potentially undermine confidence in the fairness and accountability of the Electoral Commission.
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