Political Parties Must Refrain From Declaring Results Before EC- Prez

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cautioned political parties in the country against the premature declaration of election results in the upcoming general elections.

According to him, the Electoral Commission (EC) has the sole constitutional mandate in declaring the election results.

Speaking at the 2024/25 Annual Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on September 9, 2024, he argued that the premature declaration of electoral results has the propensity to cause chaos.

“It is imperative that the Electoral Commission remains the sole authority responsible for declaring election results to preserve the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. Political parties must refrain from declaring results before the Electoral Commission does so as this could lead to confusion, misinformation and even potential conflict. The EC’s role as an impartial and independent body ensures that its results reflect the will of the people free from partisan influence.”

Meanwhile, he charged the Commission to exhibit impartiality, independence and integrity, ensuring that the process is fair to all parties and the result reflects the true will of the people.

He added, “The Commission should also ensure that all logistical arrangements are in place to facilitate a smooth voting process that any dispute that may arise is handled expeditiously and transparently.”