Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has criticized the Electoral Commission (EC) over delays in declaring the results of the 2024 presidential election.
He called the EC’s actions “feet dragging” and warned of heightened tensions nationwide as a result of the delay.
Speaking at a process conference in Accra on Sunday, Asiedu Nketia emphasized the urgent need for the EC to announce the presidential results particularly, to ease rising tensions across the country.
He stated, “The Electoral Commission must stop the feet dragging so that results can be announced, and the tensions in the nation will come down. We believe that is the way to secure peace.”
He slammed the lack of communication from the EC, which he claims is causing frustration among citizens and party agents.
According to him, NDC agents countrywide are complaining because they do not understand why the Electoral Commission is not announcing the results.
The NDC Chairman expressed concerns about the potential reactions from the party’s youth and stressed that delays could provoke unrest.
“The youth of this country have started reacting. I think this is a very dangerous moment in the history of our country,” he warned.
Asiedu Nketia revisited previous concerns about election-related violence and lack of justice, citing the Ayawaso West Wuogon incident as an example.
He accused the EC and government of undermining peace efforts and called on the National Peace Council to demand accountability from the EC.
“We demanded justice in cases where crimes were committed during elections, yet nothing has happened to the perpetrators. The National Peace Council must now call on the Electoral Commission to expedite action,” he stressed.
The NDC declared that its candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has secured a landslide victory, based on collated results and that he has secured 56% of the total votes.
These figures, he said, are from the NDC copies of the EC’s results and questioned what is preventing the Commission from announcing the winner.
He alleged that the government is colluding with the EC to delay the announcement, claiming it could be a tactic to justify deploying security forces.
“We are aware of the government’s connivance with the Electoral Commission to delay the declaration so that agitations will start, and the military will be unleashed to shoot and kill innocent citizens,” he accused.
Asiedu Nketia reiterated his party’s commitment to peace but insisted that justice must prevail before he can ask NDC supporters to remain calm.
He said, “The only way I can call on the youth of my party and this country to remain calm is when justice has been delivered. We cannot remain calm and be cheated twice,” and urged the EC to expedite the declaration process to restore calm.
Meanwhile, the Presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has conceded defeat and called President John Mahama to congratulate him.
