The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the outcome of the December 7 polls.
According to the party, the election was flawed and that it does not recognise incumbent President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the rightfully elected President of Ghana.
Addressing the press late Wednesday evening, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said: “We roundly reject and outrightly reject the declaration of the sitting president as the winner of the 2020 elections. In due course, our flagbearer will brief the nation and the international community”.
“We want to say that it’s a flawed election and therefore we reject it without any reservation, we reject the presidential elections as announced by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission [Jean Mensa]. And we also want to serve notice that the blatant effort to deny us a parliamentary majority will be fiercely resisted. We know that the good people of Ghana gave us a mandate and that mandate includes a parliamentary majority… Overwhelming evidence available to us make it difficult for us to accept these results,” he insisted.
EC declared Akufo-Addo winner
The Returning Officer of the 2020 Presidential Election, Jean Mensa after a keenly contested poll, declared President Nana Akufo-Addo as the winner of the Presidential election.
She said Akufo-Addo won by polling 6,730,413 of the votes cast, representing 51.295% while John Mahama trailed behind with 6,214,889 representing 47.366%.
Jean Mensa explained that the results exclude Techiman South constituency which is currently being disputed.
Results amendment
The Electoral Commission subsequently amended the declared results.
The votes obtained by Nana Akufo-Addo was now given as 6,730,587 (51.302%) and John Mahama’s own now pegged at 6,213,182 (47.359%).
“The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission inadvertently used 13,433,573 as the total valid votes cast. The total valid votes cast is 13,119,460. This does not change the percentages stated for each candidate and the declaration made by the Chairperson,” a statement the Electoral Commission issued on Thursday, December 10, 2020, noted.
NDC insists it has won majority seats in Parliament
The NDC has insisted that it won majority seats in Parliament winning 140 constituencies; a claim rejected by the governing New Patriotic Party.
Haruna Iddrisu on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, accused government of using military oppression to reduce some of its figures.
He reiterated this allegation later in the evening.
“We also want to serve notice that the blatant effort to deny us a parliamentary majority will be fiercely resisted. We know that the good people of Ghana gave us a mandate and that mandate includes a parliamentary majority,” Haruna Iddrisu added.
Majority vs Minority
Results from the polls independently compiled by Citi News show that both NDC and NPP have taken hold of 135 seats each in the 275-member legislative house and one independent candidate. Results from the remaining four constituencies are being disputed.
“We won Techiman South. That gives us a parliamentary majority. We demand an immediate collation of the results of Techiman South as collated in the various polling stations.”
He insisted that the NDC also won the Sefwi-Wiawso, Upper Denkyira West, Tarkwa-Nsuaem seats which are also being disputed.
“Even as we stand, not even EC or NPP knows the parliamentary majority,” said Haruna Iddrisu.
EC ignored Mahama’s petition
With regard to the presidential result, the Minority Leader claimed that a petition John Mahama sent to the Electoral Commission highlighting his concerns with the results, were ignored by the electoral management body.
“It is regrettable to note that, before her declaration, Excellency John Mahama contested the election as a candidate and a stakeholder in the election…even when he tabled a petition…that was treated with utmost disdain. It was ignored by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. The declaration of the Electoral Commission also smacks of bad faith.”
He also claimed that the NDC’s representative in the EC’s strongroom was also kicked out.
“While he was away, she [Jean Mensa] decided to hold a press briefing. For the petition, he was told to leave it at the reception.”
This claim has earlier been rejected by the Electoral Commission.
