Election Integrity at Risk? The Truth Behind Ablekuma North’s Scanned Pink Sheets

Calls for Electoral Justice in Ablekuma North: Why a Re-Run is Necessary

The heat in Ablekuma North is not just from the blazing sun—it’s from the political tension that has engulfed the constituency following the disputed collation of the 2024 election results. The people are asking: why is hot air blowing from the corridors of power like toxic exhaust, suffocating truth and transparency?

In the midst of this controversy, critical questions remain unanswered. Who is truly in charge of ensuring electoral fairness? Where is the Electoral Commission (EC), the body entrusted with impartiality and credibility? Why has the voice of justice remained silent while political actors attempt to secure a mandate under questionable circumstances?

This is not merely a matter of procedure—it is about upholding democracy and restoring faith in our institutions. The people of Ablekuma North deserve clarity, fairness, and a legitimate outcome.

What Happened in Ablekuma North?
On December 7 and 8, 2024, violence erupted at the Ablekuma North collation centre, resulting in the destruction of several carbonated pink sheets—the official documents used to verify and compile election results. Due to this disruption, results from only 219 out of 281 polling stations could be collated using the original pink sheets.

When the EC, the NDC, and the NPP ran out of carbonated pink sheets, the collation process stalled. However, the NPP sought to continue by submitting scanned copies of their pink sheets. This move was initially rejected by Dr. Benjamin Bannor Bio, the EC’s Director of Elections, who stated that scanned documents could not replace the original carbonated pink sheets.

Shockingly, this decision was later overturned. On January 5, 2025, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the EC’s Director for Training, instructed the Returning Officer to accept the NPP’s scanned pink sheets—despite strong objections from the NDC and the earlier directive from the Director of Elections.

Subsequently, 42 scanned pink sheets from the NPP were accepted, and by January 6 and 8, the EC brought in 17 Presiding Officers to validate the results. However, not all of them were able to confirm the accuracy of the scanned data.

Why the Electoral Commission Must Call a Re-Run
This sequence of events raises serious questions about the transparency and legality of the electoral process. Is it justifiable for the EC to rely on scanned pink sheets from only one political party, particularly when original copies were unavailable to all stakeholders? Can such a process be considered credible or fair?

Moreover, the EC’s claim that there was unanimous agreement among political parties to accept the scanned sheets is being challenged. The NDC has consistently opposed the move, arguing that it undermines the integrity of the process.

If democracy is to thrive, the EC must act with integrity and impartiality. It is imperative that a re-run be held in the 62 affected polling stations in Ablekuma North to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

The people are not asking for favours—they are demanding fairness. Electoral credibility cannot be compromised. Justice must not only be done—it must be seen to be done.

For peace to prevail, for democracy to stand firm, the EC must do the right thing.

Call for a re-run now. Let the voice of Ablekuma North be truly heard.