EC cautions against overcrowding collation centres

The Electoral Commission (EC) has advised the public to avoid overcrowding collation centres as results from various polling stations continue to trickle in.

At a press conference held at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Saturday at the EC’s head office in Accra, the Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey emphasized that only accredited individuals and organizations would be permitted access to the collation centres.

“The commission wishes to inform the leadership of all political parties and presidential candidates that the coalitions centres are restricted areas. Only persons who have been accredited by the Electoral Commission can have access to the constituency coalitions centres and each candidate has two agents at each of the collation centres,” he said. 

In this regard, Mr. Tettey praised the cooperation of candidates at the constituency collation centres, noting that their collaboration so far had been commendable. He urged them to maintain this approach to ensure a smooth and efficient collation process.

Regarding the media, the EC expressed appreciation for the high level of professionalism displayed thus far. However, Mr Tettey stressed the importance of media outlets verifying and cross-checking information, particularly election results, before releasing them to the public.

The EC also extended its praise to polling officials, especially returning officers and collation officers, for their exemplary performance. Mr Tettey, however, reminded them to continue carrying out their duties with the utmost professionalism as the collation of results progressed at the various centres.

“The police has been able to maintain effective security at the collation centres so far, although a few of the centres were overcrowded but have been brought under control by the police,” he added. 

Earlier tonight

At a press conference, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi urged all NDC supporters to accompany the party's agents, the police, and Electoral Commission (EC) officials to the collation centres in their respective constituencies to "protect their votes."

He emphasized that while voting had officially concluded, the next critical stage of the electoral process—the collation of results—was still underway and required careful attention.

“Now you have the responsibility to protect those votes. This new stage of constituency collation is of utmost importance to all of us. Our leader would want all of us to stop the jubilation,” Mr Gyamfi said. 

“Until results are duly collated, declared at the constituency coalition centers, the results forms at the constituency collation centres are duly filled and signed by the various party collation agents and our agent is given his or her copy, you don't jubilate,” he stated. 

“You only jubilate after the results have been declared, agents have signed, or better still, our agent has had the official certified copy of the results declared by the Electoral Commission at the constituency collation centre,” Mr Gyamfi told his charges.