The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has raised concerns about the unresolved parliamentary results in nine constituencies following the December 7, 2024, general elections.
He has called for a rerun in these areas, citing irregularities that have compromised the sanctity of the electoral process.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen program on Thursday, Mr. Carbonu emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
According to him, the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to re-collate results for the disputed constituencies would not adequately address the underlying issues or restore public confidence.
“The sanctity of the electoral process has been compromised, and it should be done again,” he stated. “Re-collating the results will not end the agitation, but a rerun will bring clarity and peace. If the EC listens to this advice, it will show the people that when elections are not well conducted, there can be a rerun to ensure fairness.”
Disputed Constituencies
The EC has announced plans to re-collate results for the following nine constituencies:
- Nsawam Adoagyiri
- Ahafo Ano South West
- Ahafo Ano North
- Obuasi East
- Okaikwei Central
- Ablekuma North
- Tema Central
- Techiman South
- Dome Kwabenya
This decision comes after the Commission refused to accept the collated results from Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central due to irregularities during the collation and declaration processes.
Mr. Carbonu, who also served as an election observer for the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), criticized the EC’s handling of the election.
He questioned the criteria used for selecting polling agents, suggesting that lapses in this area may have contributed to the current controversies.
“If the EC had followed proper procedures, we would not be in this situation,” he argued.
He added that while the elections themselves were largely peaceful, the challenges arose during the collation and declaration of results. For Mr. Carbonu, a rerun is the only viable solution to restore public trust in the electoral process and ensure fairness.
“The best way forward is a rerun, not just re-collation, to restore public trust in the electoral process,” he insisted.
Mr. Carbonu believes that conducting a rerun will bring clarity to the electoral outcomes and prevent further agitation. He also stressed that a rerun would send a strong message about the consequences of electoral irregularities.
“We need a rerun because it will allow for a clearer outcome. Re-collating the results will not bring peace or harmony,” he noted.
As the EC prepares to address the irregularities in these constituencies, Mr. Carbonu’s call for a rerun highlights the broader concerns about electoral integrity and public confidence. Whether the EC will heed his advice remains to be seen, but the call for transparency and fairness continues to resonate among stakeholders and the public.