NDC demands Recount

Ghana's main opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to call for a recount of all rejected ballots.

The party said the number of ballots rejected from all the polling centres is alarming and should give all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliations.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Dr. Nii Josiah Aryeh told journalists that his party has made a formal request to the EC for the recount and expressed the hope that this is done.

As at the time of filing this report, the Commission had not given an indication as to whether it was going to recount the ballots. “We are waiting for their answer” Dr. Aryeh said adding, “We are not concerned about whether the rejected ballots are in favour of the NDC, the NPP, the CPP or any other party.” For him, what is important is that their concern is legitimate, the number is alarming nd “Ghanaians need to be interested in this matter.”

Dr. Aryeh said the percentage of the ballots rejected is around 2.5. “The invalid votes are excessively high.”

He also told journalists that a fair number of the results have not been signed, an issue which is also of concern to their party.

The NDC General Secretary who himself recently came under intense media and public condemnation for “dinning” with his party's arch rival, the ruling New Patriotic Party some six days to December 7 polls.

Dr. Aryeh who is also a law lecturer at the university of Ghana, Legon, maintained that their action is totally within the laws of the West African country and called on the EC to investigate to see if there was any truth in what they are saying or not.

The Commission was expected to announce the final result of the elections today, Thursday December 09.

Press Secretary to the president, Kwabena Adjapong said the president John Agyekum Kufuor is awaiting the final declaration of the results of the election, which he is certain he has won. He added that the NDC know that “we have won the election.

Mr. Adjapong said the NDC is finding it difficult to understand their situation.

“We have been here for the past four days. The decision was taken by the 21,000 electoral officers”, he said adding, the Electoral Commission knows the law and would not accept the request of the NDC.

According to the president's press secretary, the issue of the rejected ballots is outside the contest. “How can you tell who the ballots would have favoured” “I don't know where they are coming from” I don't think the issue will accept the request of the EC because they know the law. “This is bizarre, this is absolutely unacceptable. “We know we have won the elections and the NDC know that we have won the election.”

The NDC said its presidential candidate; Prof. John Evans Atta Mills will not concede defeat until these issues are sorted out.