Electoral Commission Has Lost Credibility – Seth Acheampong

Former Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong has delivered a strong rebuke of the Electoral Commission (EC), accusing it of weakening public trust and validating claims that it is “unfit for purpose.” His criticism stems from the EC’s handling of electoral irregularities in the Ablekuma North Constituency during the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, July 10, Acheampong slammed the EC for failing to take action against criminal activities linked to the disruption of the December 7 elections, including the burning of its collation centre.

“Criminal acts were committed, yet nothing has been done. How can the Commission expect the public to trust its actions if it refuses to address those incidents?” he questioned.

The EC has scheduled a rerun in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North, citing unauthenticated pink sheets that lacked the required signatures of presiding officers. However, Acheampong believes this move contradicts the Commission’s earlier stance and undermines its own authority.

“You came to Parliament and made your case. Now you’re reversing that position. It seems the EC lost its resolve after General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, branded it as unfit. Sadly, their actions are now supporting that claim,” he remarked.

Despite the EC’s constitutional role, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vowed to boycott the scheduled July 11 rerun. Acheampong reinforced this position, insisting that the party will not participate.

“We are standing by our word. We won’t take part in the rerun. We are not contesting,” he declared.

This comes after an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Ali Baba Abature, dismissed the NPP’s application for an interim injunction on the rerun, stating that blocking the process would hinder the EC’s constitutional duty and deny representation to the constituents.

The NPP argues that the EC’s decision contradicts a January 4, 2025, High Court directive to collate and declare results from 62 polling stations. According to the party’s legal team, by January 27, the EC had indicated that only three polling station results remained outstanding — not 19, as now claimed.