Electoral Commissioner Jean Mensa has assured the public that the ongoing impasse in the Ablekuma North constituency will be resolved soon.
This forms part of efforts to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process for the 2024 general elections.
Mrs. Mensa made this known during a meeting on Wednesday with the leadership of political parties at the Electoral Commission’s (EC) headquarters in Accra.
She added that “I’d like to just place a record that that collation was done in the presence of agents… So it was not done on your blind side. However, as I mentioned, we will have an in-depth meeting to discuss it.”
The meeting, aimed at fostering collaboration and addressing electoral concerns, provided an opportunity for the EC and political parties to engage in constructive dialogue.
Mrs. Mensa acknowledged that previous meetings held during the heat of the 2024 elections were tense but expressed satisfaction with the current atmosphere, which she described as more conducive for productive discussions.
“And since the elections of 2024, we have not had the opportunity to meet. So we thought it was important to re-gather, to reconvene, and to rekindle the spirit of cooperation as we chart the way forward for the future elections in this country. I’m sure you all agree with me that the outcome of the 2024 general elections is a confirmation and an affirmation that our processes and our systems work,” she said.
She added that the just-ended electoral process is “an attestation that elections in Ghana are free, fair, credible and transparent.”
“It is a confirmation that elections are indeed won or lost at the polling station, and therefore it is important for political parties to also own what happens at the polling stations. It is also a confirmation that the Electoral Commission of Ghana, can be trusted to conduct and undertake free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, year after year.”
The Ablekuma North constituency has been a focal point of contention following disputes over the voter registration exercise and allegations of irregularities in the electoral roll.
The impasse has raised concerns among political parties and residents, prompting calls for a swift resolution to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.
Mrs. Mensa emphasised the EC’s commitment to addressing the concerns of all stakeholders and urged political parties to prioritize the national interest over partisan considerations.
During the meeting, Mrs. Mensa also addressed rumors that she had left the country following the December 7, 2020, general elections.
She categorically denied these claims, stating that she and her deputies remained in Ghana and continued to carry out their duties.
The Chairperson further clarified that their absence from the presidential inauguration ceremony was due to not being invited, a situation she described as not uncommon for EC officials.
