The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has issued a stern warning to Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), accusing her and the Commission’s deputies of undermining Ghana’s democracy by breaching electoral laws.
In a press conference held on Thursday, December 19, Dafeamekpor stated that the actions of the EC officials were “a danger to Ghana’s democracy” and urged them to operate within the confines of the law. His comments followed a recent statement by Jean Mensa during a press conference, where she declared that the Commission would not accept Parliamentary results from certain constituencies.
“Jean Mensa cannot be a law unto herself and decide to ignore, validate, or invalidate the declaration of election results,” Dafeamekpor stressed, referencing the guidelines outlined in CI 127, which clearly outlines that once results are declared, it is not within the EC’s discretion to accept or reject them.
The MP pointed out that the Electoral Commission is bound by the Constitution and CI 127, which strictly stipulates the process to follow after the declaration of election results. He emphasized that insisting on a re-collation of results would directly violate these laws.
“I caution Jean Mensa and the other commissioners that they could face criminal prosecution under Regulation 45 for breaching electoral laws,” Dafeamekpor warned. “The EC must operate within the law to ensure Ghana’s democracy is not jeopardized.”
Dafeamekpor also highlighted a precedent from the 2020 elections, where Jean Mensa herself had stated that re-collation of results could only occur before the declaration of final results and that after the declaration, the only legal recourse was to seek redress in court.
“In December 2020, Jean Mensa stated in writing that re-collation can only be done before the declaration of results. After the declaration, the only option available is to seek redress in court,” Dafeamekpor noted, questioning why the EC Chairperson had now contradicted her previous stance.
Dafeamekpor expressed concern over the potential consequences of the EC’s actions, especially regarding the presidential election results. He warned of the chaos that could ensue if the EC proceeded to re-collate the presidential election results, urging the Commission to act responsibly and avoid provoking unnecessary tension in the country.
“The EC must act responsibly and avoid provoking unnecessary tension,” he cautioned. “Imagine the chaos if the EC announced a re-collation of presidential election results.”
The MP called on the judiciary to intervene, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the EC operates within the boundaries of the law.
“We trust the courts to call the EC’s bluff and ensure they conduct themselves in line with the laws governing elections in this country. Jean Mensa cannot be a law unto herself,” he stated.
Dafeamekpor concluded by urging the EC to uphold the rule of law and maintain peace in the country. “The EC must remember that their actions today will be scrutinized tomorrow. Ghana deserves better. Let’s ensure our democracy is preserved,” he added.
As the situation develops, all eyes are on the High Court, where a legal challenge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to be heard.
Source: thenewsbulletin24.com