The Member of Parliament-elect for Tema Central, Ebi Bright, has dismissed allegations made by Fred Tetteh, Deputy Director of Research at the Electoral Commission (EC), regarding alleged violence and irregularities during the collation and declaration of election results in the constituency. Tetteh claimed that the process in Tema Central was marred by violence, including the assault of a presiding officer, and suggested that the results were declared unlawfully.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Tetteh expressed shock at what he described as unprecedented levels of coercion and violence during the collation of results in certain constituencies, singling out Tema Central as an example. He alleged that the District Electoral Officer of Tema West was forced to declare the results under duress, which he deemed irregular and unlawful.
“Have you seen the video of Tema Central?” Tetteh questioned. “The District Electoral Officer’s stomach is being hit to declare the results. This is the first time in our electioneering history that we’ve seen such coercion. It is the District Officer for Tema West who declared the results for Tema Central, and that is not lawful.”
Ebi Bright’s Response
Ebi Bright strongly refuted these claims, describing them as baseless and damaging to the integrity of her constituency. In an impassioned rebuttal on the same platform, she labeled Tetteh’s comments as misleading and accused him of tarnishing the image of Tema Central and its electoral process.
“I am scandalized by the conduct of Mr. Tetteh,” Bright stated. “He is an embarrassing figure in this context. You make accusations of people being held at gunpoint to declare results, but you cannot provide evidence or even pinpoint where this supposedly happened. Dragging Tema Central into this narrative is appalling and unfair.”
The MP-elect emphasized that the election and collation processes in Tema Central were conducted lawfully and peacefully. She challenged Tetteh to produce evidence supporting his allegations of violence and coercion, accusing him of undermining the electoral system’s credibility with baseless claims.
“Which of your officers was assaulted in Tema Central?” she asked. “Where is the evidence of brutality or coercion during the collation process? These unfounded accusations are shameful and erode public confidence in the Electoral Commission.”
A Call for Integrity
Bright expressed her disappointment in the EC, stating that character and integrity have been lacking in its operations. She noted that the delayed collation process in Tema Central, which took three days to complete, already raised suspicions of potential attempts to subvert the will of the people.
“Keeping us waiting for three days just to collate parliamentary results was unacceptable,” she remarked. “It became clear that there was an attempt to undermine the mandate of the people of Tema Central. The process must always be transparent and in line with the law.”
Bright affirmed her commitment to upholding the democratic process and ensuring the voices of her constituents are respected. She described the election in Tema Central as competitive but lawful and reiterated that the will of the people was reflected in the results.
Election Results
Ebi Bright, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), won the parliamentary seat for Tema Central with a narrow victory, securing 18,539 votes against her closest contender, Charles Forson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 18,421 votes. The slim margin of just 118 votes underscored the intensity of the contest in the constituency.
Despite the close race, Bright maintained that the elections were conducted fairly and lawfully, and she urged the EC to focus on restoring its credibility instead of making unsubstantiated claims.
A Message to the EC
Bright’s comments also included a broader critique of the Electoral Commission’s handling of the elections. She called on the EC to prioritize transparency and integrity in its operations to restore public trust.
“We have no confidence in the EC anymore because of conduct like this,” she said. “It’s time for the commission to reflect on its role and take responsibility for ensuring that elections are conducted with the utmost integrity.”
The MP-elect concluded by calling on all stakeholders to focus on moving forward and addressing the real issues affecting citizens, rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.
As Tema Central moves on from a heated electoral process, the focus now shifts to governance and ensuring that the constituency’s development remains a priority.
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