The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced a rerun of the parliamentary elections in the Dome Kwabenya constituency. The rerun is slated to occur at the Abokobi Women’s Development Centre 2 before the official parliamentary inauguration on January 7, 2025.

This decision comes after discrepancies were uncovered during the collation process for 367 polling stations, leaving results from three outstanding stations in contention. The seat, which has been a subject of intense dispute, was initially declared for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Elikplim Akurugu, following the December 7, 2024, elections.

Tensions heightened during the collation exercise on Saturday, December 28, 2024, with disagreements over the number of polling stations requiring re-collation and the validity of earlier results. Mike Oquaye Jnr., the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate, challenged the process, citing irregularities and alleging that results from 85 polling stations were collated in the absence of NPP representatives.

The NDC countered, asserting that only three polling stations were outstanding and dismissed the claims made by the NPP.

Allegations of irregularities, including claims of tampered pink sheets, further fueled the controversy after the initial declaration. The EC has thus resolved to address the discrepancies through a rerun. The exact date for the rerun will be announced later.

Elikplim Akurugu’s initial victory marked a significant gain for the NDC in flipping a seat previously considered a stronghold for the NPP. However, the disputes have cast a shadow over the outcome, making the rerun crucial in determining the rightful occupant of the Dome Kwabenya parliamentary seat.