The Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Jamal Konneh has accused the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Madam Jean Mensa of doing the bidding of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by refusing to accept the parliamentary results declared in some nine constituencies.
In his view, Madam Jean Mensah does not mean well for Ghana.
Madam Jean Mensa had announced that the commission would not uphold the declaration of parliamentary results in nine constituencies, as they were made under duress.
The affected constituencies are Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, Techiman South, and Dome-Kwabenya.
Madam Mensa assured that the outstanding collations in these constituencies would follow due process.
The declarations made by our staff were under threats, and we consider them illegal. We will not uphold results made under threats or duress,” she stated during a press conference in Accra on Thursday, December 19.
She further called on the outgoing President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the incoming President, John Dramani Mahama, to ensure the safety of EC officials.
“We appeal to Akufo-Addo and John Mahama to intervene and provide the commission with adequate security to fully complete our work in the 2024 general elections,” Jean Mensa added.
But in a statement responding to her, Jamal Konneh said “Upon her assumption as EC chair, she has been doing the bidding of the NPP, and after jointly suffering their most humiliating defeat, she is stubbornly pushing her diabolic plan to secure additional seats for the NPP.
In setting the record straight, the statement said “The Retuning Officer for Fanteakwa North declared for the NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Hon. Apaw Wiredu Harun, who is currently the MP elect for Fanteakwa North. The NPP executives and the EC dragged the Deputy Returning Officer for Fanteakwa North to illegally redeclare their their Candidate at Tesano Police Training School. Today, Jean Mensah is telling us that the declaration of the Returning Officer who has the statutory authority to declare Parliamentary results does not hold but that of the deputy returning officer holds. Funny!!!
“On Nsawam, the EC was served with an injunction to halt the process. Why did Jean Mensah refuse to mention the fact that the issue is currently in the court. On Akwatia, the EC did collation with only the NPP agents and their Parliamentary Candidate without the presence of the NDC agents or the candidate. Do you call that fairness? On Suhum, six (6) polling station results had serious issues, but the EC ignored it and decided not to add those polling stations and went ahead to declare it. In certain instances Jean Mensah says, she cannot accept a declaration because three (3) polling stations results have not been added but in suhum, she accepts a declaration without six polling stations because it favours the NPP.
In 2020, Jean Mensah told us (NDC) to go to court after the Returning Officers had declared in certain constituencies that favoured the NPP. Today, the same person is telling us in certain places the returning officers declared under duress so therefore the declaration cannot be upheld. The question is, does it lie in her purview to determine whether the declaration of results was under duress or otherwise? Is Jean Mensah now a court of competent jurisdiction??
“Karma has really caught up with Jean Mensah. Her advice to the NDC in the past on going to court has caught up with her and being unable to stand by her words this time around she is seeking to circumvent the law but let it be loudly known to her that we will fearlessly and radically resist any illegal manouvring by her and the other NPP sponsored commission members of the EC to alter the course of justice. Jean Mensah should bear in mind that she is not the returning officer for the Parliamentary election. She should better allow the mandated returning officers to do their work.”
