Former Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency, Hon. Kojo Adu Asare, has raised serious concerns about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to maintain Regional Collation Centers for the 2024 general elections.
In an exclusive interview with The Overseer Media , the outspoken politician described the move as a potential tool for election rigging, specifically designed to benefit the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). He urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to prepare towards it very well as it has been captured in the CI.
Adu Asare argued that the establishment of Regional Collation Centers creates opportunities for manipulation of election results. He recalled that ahead of the 2020 elections, the NDC strongly opposed the introduction of these centers, labeling them unconstitutional. According to him, the party even formed a committee, led by prominent legal expert Lawyer Nana Ato Dadzie, which recommended that we should go back to Constituency system .
“The NDC made it clear prior to 2020 election that Regional Collation Centers pose a serious risk to electoral integrity. It was a new and dangerous addition to our system, and we issued statements to that effect. “One of our key proposals to the EC was to revert to the previous system of constituency-based collation, where results are transmitted directly from the constituency offices to the EC headquarters,” Adu Asare said.
The former MP insists that collating results at the constituency level is a more transparent and efficient system.
“Crosschecking results between the constituency and the national EC office is much easier, and political parties can monitor the process more effectively. But with Regional Collation Centers, there are too many opportunities for interference. Between the regional offices and the national headquarters, things can go wrong,” he added.
Adu Asare did not mince words, stating his belief that the NPP stands to lose the 2024 elections if they are conducted fairly. He, however, expressed concern that the EC’s decision to maintain Regional Collation Centers is a clear indication that they intend to manipulate the results in favor of the NPP.
“Everyone in Ghana knows that the NPP is not in a strong position heading into 2024. But the EC’s posturing suggests that they are capable of using these centers to help the NPP. I advise my party, the NDC, to strongly oppose this system and push for a return to constituency-based collation. This is the only way we can ensure fair and transparent elections,” he emphasized.
Adu Asare also referenced the views shared by former Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Kwajo Afari Gyan, who similarly opposed the introduction of Regional Collation Centers. “Dr. Afari Gyan said it himself – creating Regional Collation Centers is a step backward. It increases the number of points where results can be manipulated.
In Nigeria, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) used a similar strategy to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party in their recent elections. The NDC must be vigilant to avoid a similar fate,” Adu Asare warned.
