A chaotic scene unfolded on Friday morning when supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) vandalized the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) in protest over the delayed collation of results in the contentious Ablekuma North parliamentary election.
Protest Turns Destructive
The disruption occurred as EC officials and party agents reconvened to finalize the collation process, which had been outstanding since the December 7, 2024, elections due to disputes over results from three polling stations.
Dissatisfied with the exercise, the agitated supporters stormed the EC office, damaging property and disrupting the process.
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Windows made of louvre blades and other office materials bore the brunt of the attack.
Amidst the commotion, some supporters were heard issuing threats to bystanders, warning, “If you don’t leave and you video us, we will kill you.”
Security Overwhelmed
The already volatile situation was exacerbated by the absence of adequate security personnel.
Earlier in the day, deployed security teams, including police and military officers, had left the premises after receiving word that the collation exercise would not proceed as planned.
The few officers present were overwhelmed and unable to prevent the vandalism.
Despite the chaos, no arrests were made as the supporters exited the scene, vowing to escalate their protest by heading to the EC’s Head Office.
Contentious Collation Process
The parliamentary contest between Akua Afriyie of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ewurabena Aubrey of the NDC has faced multiple disruptions, primarily over disagreements regarding the validity of some polling station results.
Of the 281 polling station results in the constituency, 278 had been collated, with three stations remaining unresolved.
The delays have been attributed to challenges in authenticating pink sheets and disagreements among presiding officers and party representatives over inconsistencies in figures.
The Returning Officer for the constituency has also expressed frustration with the process, declaring at a prior session that he would not return for further collation attempts.
Way Forward
The vandalism has added a new layer of tension to the already contentious electoral process in Ablekuma North.
Stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention to ensure a peaceful resolution and the completion of the collation process.
As the political impasse continues, the EC and security agencies face mounting pressure to restore order and protect the integrity of the electoral process in the constituency.
