Ablekuma North Election Controversy: Dr. Valerie Sawyerr Calls for Rerun of Outstanding Polling Stations

Accra, Ghana - 12 June, 2025 - Dr. Valerie Esther Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, has demanded a rerun of elections at 62 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency due to alleged irregularities and unlawful decisions during the collation process.

In a statement released on June 11, 2025, Sawyerr criticized the Electoral Commission's reliance on scanned pink sheets from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the absence of original carbonated forms.

Background of the Dispute

The controversy stems from violent incidents at the Ablekuma North collation center during the December 7-8, 2024 elections, which led to the destruction of original carbonated pink sheets. Only 219 out of 281 polling stations had their results properly collated using carbonated forms, while the remaining 62 were left without validated results.

EC's Handling of Scanned Pink Sheets

Sawyerr questioned the EC's decision to accept scanned pink sheets from the NPP, despite opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The EC brought in 17 presiding officers to validate the forms, but several officers were unable to confirm the authenticity of the data. Sawyerr condemned the EC's actions, describing them as a "diabolic drama" and a "bold-faced lie".

Call for Justice and Electoral Integrity

Sawyerr emphasized that peace in Ablekuma North depends on fairness and respect for democratic processes. She urged the EC to order a rerun of elections at the affected polling stations, stating, "No ground stomping, no walks from Timbuktu to Accra... will make what is wrong... right." Sawyerr concluded with an appeal for calm and justice, asserting, "I am for peace... Shalom".

Below is the full statement;

THE SAGA OF THE SCANNED PINK SHEETS &
ABLEKUMA NORTH!

What are those cymbals clashing… those discordant trumpets blowing?

Why is hot air gushing out of putrid exhaust fumes?

Who are those strutting their stuff in the hot sun, attempting to annexe a seat that does not belong to them?

In the midst of the tantrums, where is the voice of the arbiter?

Where is the bell of the institution supposed to deal fairly with all sides and present an end to the seeming stalemate?

Where is the voice of decision-making? We all watch from the sidelines, not wanting to be accused of interfering with the constitutional mandate of the referee… wishing to be perceived as bastions of democracy who do not interfere with the authority of an EC Chairperson who dances kpanlogo to the sound of the fontomfrom drums.

… but the voice of the people must be heard on the soil of Ablekuma North. The cry of her constituents must be regarded by the matriarchs and patriarchs of the land.

The whip must be cracked by the spirit of the nation. The scales of Lady Justice must stand balanced even as her blindfold signifies the absence of bias.

So let us all speak… let us tell the EC that enough is enough. Let us tell Jean Mensah to declare a re-run in sixty-two (62) polling stations of Ablekuma North Constituency for peace to prevail.

REWIND
On Dec 7-8, 2024, violence at the Ablekuma North collation center led to a number of carbonated pink sheets being destroyed.

Subsequently, carbonated pink sheets were used to collate the results of two hundred and nineteen (219) out of the two hundred and eighty-one (281) polling stations of Ablekuma North Constituency.

At this point, there were no more carbonated pink sheets from the EC, the NDC or the NPP to continue the collation exercise.

The NPP then attempted to present scanned pink sheets to continue the collation exercise.

Dr. Benjamin Bannor Bio, EC Director of Elections, declared that no scanned pink sheets would be accepted in the collation process.

On January 5, 2025, however, Dr. Sereboe Quaicoe, EC Director for Training, changed the ground rules and instructed the Returning Officer to accept the NPP’s scanned pink sheets.

On what authority does a Director for Training overturn the decision of a Director of Elections at this stage of the electioneering process?

Thereafter, a total of forty-two (42) scanned pink sheets were wrongfully accepted by the EC for collation amidst serious opposition from the NDC.

Then, with a swift change of tactics, on January 6, 2025, thirteen (13) Ablekuma North Presiding Officers who presided at some of the remaining polling stations during the December 7th elections, were brought to the collation center by the EC, to validate the results on the NPP’s scanned pink sheets.

On January 8, 2025, four (4) more presiding officers were brought in. Some of these seventeen (17) Presiding Officers were unable to validate the results on the scanned pink sheets for their polling stations.

QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
1. Is it part of the laws or training of the EC to use scanned pink sheets from one political party to collate the results of an election, when both the EC and the other party have no carbonised pink sheets to validate the figures on the scanned pink sheets?

2. In this situation, is it fair for the EC to declare the election in favour of the political party with the scanned pink sheets?

3. What kind of audacity makes this acceptable?

4. What is most amazing is the unflinching stance of the EC in perpetuating this injustice … boldly marching to the tune of the scanned pink sheets anthem … and their losing symbol. Then, claiming, in a bold faced lie, that the decision to accept the scanned pink sheets was unanimously agreed upon by the EC and the two political parties.

This swashbuckling process championed by the EC Chairperson and her two deputies is NOT acceptable!

No ground stomping, no walks from Timbuktu to Accra, no swimming of shark filled oceans, no unpalatable grunting of a wounded elephant and its associates, will make what is wrong… right.

Adukwei, order a re-run at the sixty-two (62) polling stations of Ablekuma North Constituency where you used NPP scanned pink sheets for collation… and stop wasting our time with diabolic drama.

I am for peace …
Shalom

Dr Valerie Esther Sawyerr
Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs

June 11, 2025.

Source: Lead News Online