We will declare results in 72 hours – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) will, within 72 hours, announce results of the 2016 presidential election, Eric Dzakpasu, the head of communications at the commission, has said.

Mr Dzakpasu’s statement follows demands by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the immediate announcement of the results more than 15 hours after polls closed.

“We are disturbed by the deliberate silence from the National Collation Centre of the Electoral Commission of Ghana for over 15 hours. The youth of Ghana have voted overwhelmingly for a new leader. The youth of Ghana have decided who their new leader should be and the youth of Ghana overwhelmingly voted for Nana Akufo-Addo. The youth have spoken and we will not accept massaged results that will trickle in after 15 hours of silence,” Mr Sammi Awuku, National Youth Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), said in a press conference on Thursday 8 December.

In a sharp rebuttal, Mr Dzakpasu said the commission would not be stampeded into declaring results.

“The voting process has been smooth, has been transparent, and has been attested to by the major contenders in the game. So also are recommendations from local and international observers. Let’s remain calm and complete the process according to laid down rules and regulations,” he stated at a press conference shortly after the NPP’s media briefing.

“This is not the first time that in a matter of 24 hours results have not been declared at the presidential level. It has always taken some time and the commission assures the people of this country that within a maximum of 72 hours we will be ready with the presidential results so there is no cause, there is no reason why in less than 24 hours people being very conscious of the processes involved in the collation, transmission, and declaration of results should try to stampede the commission to do what it cannot do at this material moment.”