African Elections Project (Accra)
8 December 2008
Reports from the African Elections Project reflect rising tension between the two major parties over the slow release of certified results from Sunday's parliamentary and presidential elections.
The chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadjo Afari Gyan, has assured Ghanaians he will release results from the various constituencies as soon as they certified by the EC.
Dr Afari Gyan said in a press release that, as the presiding officer for the presidential elections, results from the various constituencies will only be made public after they are received and authenticated at the commission headquarters.
He has therefore described as premature complaints of delay in the release of the election results. The EC assures Ghanaians the elections will be called within 72 hours after polls close. Polls across the country closed at 17:00 GMT on Sunday December 7.
The statement was released at the same time as the NDC was also urging the EC to announce the results as soon as possible.
NDC Says It Is In A Comfortable Lead And Wants EC To Declare Certified Results As Soon As Possible
The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says they know they are in a comfortable lead in the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The NDC has therefore called on the Electoral Commission to declare the election results as soon as possible.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the national chairman of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adji, said the party is aware of attempts to manipulate results in favour of the New Patriotic Party.
Dr. Adjei said the NDC will resist any such attempts. He added the NDC will ensure the legitimate person is name president.
The NDC also expressed it disappointment with EC officials who are refusing to announce constituency-collated results.The press conference was attended by leading NDC members including Honourable Dan Abodakpi, Mrs. Clarke Quayson, and Mr.Asiedu Nketiah.
EC Has The Final Say Declaring Election Results – NPP
The chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Peter Mac Manu says the EC is the final authority to call elections.
Mr. Mac Manu was reacting to an NDC call on the EC declare the election results as soon as possible. The NDC had said in an earlier press conference that it was in a comfortable lead in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
But, Mr. Mac-Manu said the NPP was also privy to results from collating centres which indicate otherwise. They however do not find it expedient to call the elections as some of the results are still provisional.
Mr. Mac-Manu also accused the NDC of playing mind games with their numerous press conferences. There has been a plethora of press conferences between the NDC and NPP, with five press conferences and counter press conferences between December 7 and now.
The African Elections Project website is part of the West African Elections Project, which is co-ordinated by the International Institute for ICT Journalism working hand in hand with key partners and with funding from Open Society Initiative for West Africa.
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