The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced its intention to engage the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in a decisive meeting to address the long-standing impasse over the delayed parliamentary election results in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
This was disclosed by EC Chairperson Jean Mensa at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Accra. The meeting, attended by political party representatives, civil society organizations, the media, and state institutions, aimed to strengthen collaboration between the EC and its key stakeholders.
Mrs. Mensa emphasized the urgency of resolving the matter, stating that the planned engagement with the NDC and NPP would allow for thorough discussions and a final resolution.
“We will have an in-depth meeting to discuss it,” she said, though no specific date has been set for the talks.
The delay in declaring the Ablekuma North parliamentary results stems from incomplete results sheets from three polling stations out of the constituency’s 281 polling stations. Despite verified results from 278 polling stations, the dispute over the final outcome has led to heightened tensions between the NDC and NPP.
The situation escalated on January 8, 2025, when the Returning Officer resigned following a disagreement over the authentication of pink sheets. Since then, the EC has suspended the collation process multiple times, further fueling uncertainty and anxiety among voters and political parties.
Both the NDC and NPP have separately declared victory, with the NDC insisting that its candidate, Ewurabena Aubyn, won the parliamentary seat, while the NPP maintains that its candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, emerged victorious. In a show of confidence, both parties have even mounted billboards across the constituency thanking voters for their support.
The electoral dispute has kept Ablekuma North in suspense for weeks, leading to clashes between supporters of both parties. With no official declaration yet, the EC’s intervention aims to de-escalate tensions and bring finality to the issue through dialogue.
The engagement between the EC, NDC, and NPP is expected to be a crucial step in restoring confidence in the electoral process and ensuring that the will of the people in Ablekuma North is accurately reflected in the final results.
Until then, the constituency remains in limbo, awaiting a resolution that could shape the political landscape of the area in the coming years.
