The Electoral Commission (EC) has convened an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to address critical discrepancies identified in the just-ended elections.
The discussions revolved around missing pink sheets, attacks on collation centers, and the subsequent implications for parliamentary results in the two outstanding constituencies, thus Dome-Kwabenya and Ablekuma North.
During the meeting, it emerged that some pink sheets were unaccounted for in Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North constituencies due to attacks on collation centers.
According to the EC, three polling station pink sheets were missing in Dome Kwabenya, while Ablekuma North reported 37 missing polling station pink sheets.
In Dome Kwabenya, some people attacked the collation center, and the pink sheets cannot be traced. The EC places on record that they don’t have the pink sheets.
To this effect, the Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Evans Nimako has recounted his party’s actions during the electoral process in the Ablekuma North. He emphasized;
“Before our data was attacked at the collation center, we had scanned them. We have scanned all the pink sheets in Ablekuma North constituency.’’
Mr. Evans Nimako Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
However, Mr. Nimako acknowledged the limitation regarding Dome Kwabenya, saying;
“Unfortunately for us, the three polling stations in Dome Kwabenya, we don’t have them. The EC also doesn’t have them. So that is the state we find ourselves now.”
Mr. Evans Nimako Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
“The EC has asked parties to furnish them with the data we have by Friday so we can still interrogate ,” he noted.
However, the Director of IT and Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer highlighted challenges related to the classification of pink sheets. Dr. Tanko explained;
“The way it was entered, it was entered on the presidential pink sheet instead of the parliamentary. So, they used a specimen to do that, which is why there’s a challenge.
“We deferred that one to Friday. A decision will be taken because we have that[as] outstanding matter.
“We will not accept any scanned copy in this process. This is an error of technology. I have a background in software; manipulations can easily be done. Somebody can sit in their office, design, and claim it’s a scanned copy.’’
Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer Director of IT and Elections of the (NDC)
Call for a Re-run or Verification Process
Dr. Tanko suggested that if original copies of the pink sheets could not be produced, a re-run of the elections in the affected polling stations would be the most appropriate resolution. He also called for a thorough investigation to confirm the veracity of any existing records.
Moreover, the Chairman of the PNC alleged that the discrepancies were attempts by the NPP to reduce the NDC’s overwhelming two-thirds majority parliamentary numbers. According to him, the NPP should bring their agent to publicly confirm the discrepancies that appeared on the documents as to whether people did sign, or someone forged them.
The NDC insisted that their candidate was validly elected, pointing to the existing documents as evidence.
The emergency IPAC meeting highlighted significant challenges in election management, particularly regarding the integrity of pink sheets, which might result in potential re-runs in affected areas. The EC’s request for additional data by Friday signals an effort to resolve these issues transparently.
However, the contrasting positions of the political parties underline the tension and stakes involved in maintaining electoral credibility.
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