By: Kekeli K. Blamey
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has appealed to Ghanaians to remain calm and allow the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare the official results of the December 7 general elections.
The appeal comes amidst rising tensions and concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the transparency of the electoral process.
The NDC has been demanding increased transparency in the process, sparking concerns about potential unrest.
However, in a preliminary post-election briefing on Sunday, December 8, CODEO underscored the importance of adhering to constitutional processes and assured the public of the credibility of the EC’s management of the polls.
According to CODEO, its findings from a representative sample of 1,500 polling stations across the country affirmed the transparency of the elections.
The coalition reported that 99% of political party agents and all presiding officers signed the parliamentary results declaration forms, reinforcing confidence in the integrity of the process.
CODEO commended the EC’s organization of the election, particularly the setup of polling stations and the counting of ballots, describing these aspects as generally credible.
The organization highlighted that its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) system would provide impartial verification of the EC’s official results once they were declared.
In its briefing, CODEO expressed appreciation to all stakeholders, including the EC, the security services, the media, political parties, and the general public, for their peaceful participation in the electoral process.
CODEO also acknowledged the early concession by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as a positive demonstration of statesmanship.
“The PVT has already collected data from the 1,500 polling stations sampled nationwide, ensuring a reliable check on the final results.
However, CODEO will only release its PVT estimate after the EC announces the official results,” the coalition stated, urging all Ghanaians to remain calm and uphold the nation’s democratic values.
