Disruption of Ablekuma North collation: EC accuses NDC; blames police for failing to provide security
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has called on the government to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service to ensure the Commission receives adequate security, enabling it to carry out its duties in a safe and secure environment.
In a statement released on Friday, January 17, 2025, and signed by the EC Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, the Commission expressed concern that the police failed to provide security during a planned continuation of collation process of the Ablekuma North Constituency results at the Greater Accra Regional Office on Friday morning.
As a result, the statement noted that some party supporters breached the premises of the Commission’s office at Ridge in Accra, vandalizing property, including furniture and office equipment.
The statement specifically accused supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being responsible for the incident.
The commission stated that some of the individuals who attacked the office and vandalized property issues threats to the Commission’s staff.
The Electoral Commission has called on the police to investigate the matter and take swift action to apprehend those responsible.
Police rejects EC’s accusation
Meanwhile a highly placed Police source has told Graphic Online that the EC cannot blame the police for not providing security for the exercise.
It said the commission ignored an intel shared with the commission and failed to cooperate with the police.
Per the court’s order, the source said the police has always been ready to provide protection for the collation process but the EC has not been forthcoming with information or sometimes ignores the police’s advice based on intelligence.
The source said the police had advised the EC to put Monday’s exercise on hold because it had gathered intelligence that some party supporters were planning to attack and disrupt the process, but the EC disregarded the police’s advice.
EC’s allegation against police
"The Commission wrote to the Ghana Police Service for the continuation of the collation on the 17th of January, 2025, at 8:00 am. On the day the collation was expected to take place, the Commission was alerted by the Police that per the intelligence available to them the exercise should be put on hold," the EC statement read.
"Some of the supporters also invaded the premises of the new Corporate Head Office of the Commission on motor bicycles. They issued threats to the Commission and the staff. This instilled fear in the staff and caused all staff members to flee because the environment had become unsafe as a result of the invasion. As a result of this, work has come to a standstill.
"It is instructive to note that the party supporters were led by the Greater Accra Regional Organiser of the NDC. Our staff also identified two men in military uniform without names in the company of the supporters. We call on the police to swiftly bring the perpetrators to book by identifying, arresting and persecuting them. Video footages are available showing the faces of the perpetrators of these heinous acts," it added.
Read full statement below.
