The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that it aims to declare the presidential election results within the next 72 hours.
According to the Commission, it had already received the results from the Ahafo Region and was currently awaiting the remaining results from the other 15 regions.
Speaking to the press at the National Collation Centre in Accra on Sunday evening, Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the EC, urged voters to remain patient as the Commission worked to collate the results.
She explained that the collation process was detailed and involved the active participation of political party agents to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Mrs. Mensa reassured the public that the Commission was committed to “express the will of people as reflected on the pink sheets”
“We are trusting that within 72 hours, we should be able to declare the presidential elections.
“However, if all the results come in the next hour, we will declare,” she said.
Mrs. Jean Mensa explained that the delays in the collation of results were due to the presence of party officials at the collation centres, which had created challenges for the electoral officers in carrying out their work efficiently.
She called on the leadership of the political parties to urge their supporters to vacate the collation centres, so that the process could proceed smoothly and without further disruptions.
Ghanaians went to the polls on Saturday, December 7, 2024, to elect a President and 276 Members of Parliament.
Polls opened at 0700 hours and closed at 1700 hours.
According to the law, once the polls close, ballots are counted at the polling station in full view of party agents, the media, observers, and the public.
The results are then documented on the pink sheets, which serve as the official record for determining the final election results.
The pink sheets are signed by the presiding officer and all party agents present at the polling station.
Copies of the pink sheets are distributed to all party agents, with one copy also posted at each polling station for public viewing.
By 1800 hours on Sunday, constituency results had been released in most areas, though collation was still ongoing in some constituencies.
Results from the Constituency Collation Centres are transmitted to the Regional Collation Centres, from where they are faxed to the National Collation Centre.
Once the presidential election results are received from all 16 regions, they will be reviewed by the agents of the political parties and certified by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, who also serves as the Returning Officer for the presidential elections.
GNA
