EC Blames AG, Police for Stalemate in Ablekuma North Parliamentary Collation
More than six months after Ghana’s 2024 general elections, the collation of parliamentary results in parts of the Ablekuma North Constituency remains incomplete, with the Electoral Commission (EC) attributing the delay to legal ambiguities and the absence of police protection.
The EC has ruled out the need for a re-run at this stage, maintaining that the results from the three outstanding polling stations can still be collated. However, it says the Ghana Police Service has declined to provide security for the process, pending legal advice from the Attorney General’s Department.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Bossman Asare, explained that although the Commission is technically ready to conclude the collation, it is being held back by procedural roadblocks.
“For Ablekuma North, we have not reached the point where we will say we don’t have the results. When we try and cannot get the results, that is when we will resort to a re-run. A re-run remains a last option,” he stated.
Timeline of Delays and Legal Gridlock
Dr. Asare outlined to lawmakers the EC’s efforts to resolve the impasse. On March 28, 2025, the Commission wrote to the Ghana Police Service to inform them of the three outstanding polling stations and requested a meeting with the Election Security Taskforce to set a new collation date.
A planned meeting for April 10 was postponed due to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) travelling to Bawku amid renewed conflict in the area.
Subsequently, on May 2, the Commission wrote again proposing May 8 for another meeting. This meeting was held, and May 15 was agreed upon as the new collation date. However, just two days before the exercise, the EC was invited to another meeting where the Police disclosed the existence of a pending legal matter at the Supreme Court involving the constituency.
The Police, citing potential contempt of court, withheld security support for the scheduled collation.
On May 15, the EC responded in writing, asserting that no injunction or legal barrier existed. It proposed a follow-up meeting on May 16 and requested Police protection.
However, the Police and National Security Taskforce later informed the Commission that the matter had been referred to the Attorney General for legal advice and that no security arrangements would be made until the advice was received.
“The National Police Service and the National Security Taskforce informed the Commission that the issue had been referred to the Attorney General and until legal advice is received, they will not proceed with security arrangements,” Dr. Asare told Parliament.
EC Appeals to Parliament for Intervention
Frustrated by months of legal deadlocks, the EC has appealed to Parliament to intervene and help secure the needed security clearance.
“Mr. Speaker, the collation has been transparent. As a Commission, we are desirous of ensuring that the people of Ablekuma North have representation in Parliament,” Dr. Asare stated. “We urge this Honourable House to assist us in getting the Ghana Police Service to provide the requisite protection to enable us to complete this collation exercise.”
According to Dr. Asare, agents of the two major political parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—as well as the media, had been present throughout the process and agreed to use scanned pink sheets. Party agents had endorsed the materials used for the initial collation.
GH¢6m Spent on Ballot Printing
In response to broader questions from Parliament regarding election-related expenditures, Dr. Asare disclosed that the EC spent GH¢3.6 million on reprinting presidential ballots and GH¢2.4 million on parliamentary ballots in the Eastern and Western Regions for the 2024 elections.
Though unrelated to the Ablekuma North impasse, the expenditure update sheds light on the Commission’s logistical and financial commitments during the general polls.
Constituents in Electoral Limbo
The protracted delay in collation has left residents of Ablekuma North without a declared Member of Parliament, despite voting in the December 2024 general elections.
The situation has sparked political frustration among constituents and observers, raising broader concerns about the precedent it sets for Ghana’s democratic and electoral processes.
While the EC insists that a re-run is unnecessary and that it is prepared to declare results from the three polling stations once security is guaranteed, the stalemate—rooted in institutional inaction and legal uncertainty—remains unresolved.
Until the Attorney General’s Department issues its legal opinion and the Police resume cooperation, the electoral process in Ablekuma North will remain suspended, leaving both the EC and the constituents in a state of political limbo.
