EC says it complied with law on declaration of results

Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday said it complied with the law in the declaration of the results of the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

The Electoral Commissioner, it said, signed the respective declarations in respect of the publication of the elections spiking claims in the media that the Commission did not publish the results in accordance with the law.

The EC said in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Yorke Aidoo, Director of Public Affairs, that in compliance with the constitutional provision on the declaration of the winner of the Presidential Election, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan signed the "Declaration of President-Elect Instrument 2004, CI 49" on Friday, December 10, 2004.

This was gazetted on December 24 2004 and published by the government printer, Assembly Press, Accra, with Reference: GPC/A896/300/12/2004.

In respect of the publication of the Parliamentary Election, Dr Afari-Gyan signed the results of the December 7 vote on December 24, 2004 containing the schedule for all the 10 regions for gazette notification.

The Parliamentary election results were published in the Ghana Gazette under authority of the government printer, Assembly Press, Accra, dated December 31, 2004 with gazette number 56 of 2004, the EC said.

"It is the expectation of the Commission that the above declaration in respect of the publication of the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary election results would dispel the erroneous impression that the Commission failed to perform its functions under the law and put to rest any wrong information put in the public domain, which can destroy the reputation of the Commission," it said.

"The Commission is faithfully committed t the discharge of its constitutional duties and would endeavour to avoid an act that would undermine its corporate mission of advancing the course of democracy and good governance for the enhanced development of our country."