As Ghana braces for its pivotal December 7 elections, former President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has issued grave allegations against the Electoral Commission (EC). Mahama claims the EC is colluding with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to undermine the integrity of the polls.
In a Facebook post on December 6, 2024, Mahama asserted that the EC has ignored repeated warnings from the NDC regarding exposed validating stamps, a critical tool for ensuring ballot authenticity. “Since Thursday night, the NDC has reported several cases of exposed validating stamps to the Commission, yet they have refused to issue a directive to stop their staff from disclosing stamp identities and details ahead of the general elections,” he wrote.
Mahama cautioned that such breaches could facilitate electoral fraud, alleging that exposed stamp details would allow the creation of counterfeit ballot papers bearing fraudulent stamps to mimic legitimacy. Adding to his concerns, he referred to an EC internal memo dated October 10, 2024, which he claims outlines a deliberate strategy to expose serial numbers on the stamps—a move he described as enabling ballot stuffing.
The NDC leader has called on the National Peace Council, religious bodies, civil society organizations, international observers, and traditional authorities to intervene and demand accountability from the EC.
Despite the accusations, Mahama remains confident in the democratic will of Ghanaians. He reassured supporters that the NDC is fully prepared to safeguard the election’s credibility, stating, “We will resist any attempts to manipulate the outcome.”
As the nation approaches polling day, the allegations have heightened tensions, raising critical questions about the EC’s neutrality and the election’s overall integrity. The coming hours are set to be decisive for the stability of Ghana’s democracy and its future leadership.