The Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare, has assured the public that the Commission is fully committed to delivering the results of the presidential election within 72 hours after polls close on December 7. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Dr. Asare emphasized the EC’s dedication to accuracy, transparency, and adherence to established timelines in the electoral process. He stated that the EC will work within the 72-hour window, a convention they have consistently followed in previous elections, ensuring that Ghanaians will promptly know the outcome of the election.
Dr. Asare elaborated on the multi-step process of collating the results, which involves significant coordination across the country. After the parliamentary election results are tallied in the constituencies, the presidential results are transmitted to the regional capitals for review before being sent to the EC headquarters in Accra for final verification. “The process involves meticulous checks at every stage,” he explained, highlighting that while some constituencies may finalize their results as early as 12 a.m. or 1 a.m., the review process must ensure transparency and credibility at all levels. He further assured that political parties would have representation at every stage of the process to uphold this transparency.
Reflecting on the 2020 elections, Dr. Asare acknowledged the initial goal of declaring results within 24 hours, which ultimately stretched to 48 hours. For the upcoming election, the EC has set a 72-hour target to allow for thoroughness and efficiency. He explained that while the goal remains to declare results as quickly as possible, the extra time will ensure that every aspect of the process is handled carefully. “If we can get the results in less than 24 hours or within 36 hours, we will do so,” he affirmed, but reiterated that the EC is committed to delivering the results within the agreed 72-hour timeframe, ensuring that Ghanaians receive accurate, credible, and timely results.
