Former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, has alleged that the Electoral Commission (EC) is operating under “serious coercion,” suggesting that the Commission is being pressured into decisions that compromise its independence and consistency.

Speaking to Channel One News at the Ablekuma North constituency—where a rerun of parliamentary elections is underway across 19 polling stations—Dr. Okoe Boye questioned the EC’s decision to reverse its earlier stance that a rerun was unnecessary.

“The EC itself said that they did not need to do a rerun, and we also said they shouldn’t do a rerun. Today, they have changed their position,” he noted.

Drawing an analogy, he said, “If you have a brother who promised he wouldn’t smoke, and you later find him smoking, it’s not enough to call him a hypocrite. What if a gun was put to his head? You have to ask what happened.”

Dr. Okoe Boye added that while public criticism has largely focused on the EC’s inconsistencies, few are asking why such reversals are happening.

“This EC is under serious coercion, and because the NPP is not in the good books of the public, everybody is quiet,” he said.

“How can you have the chairman of a party deciding which heads of institutions must be sacked, saying, ‘The EC head must go’? A lot of pressure has been brought to bear on the EC.”

He stressed that although the issue is not receiving widespread attention now, it is one that must be addressed shortly. “Over time, we need to look at it,” he concluded.

On a more personal note, Dr. Okoe Boye also expressed empathy for Nana Akua Afriyie, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the rerun, saying she was going through a difficult emotional period.

“I am in a difficult position because of the party’s stance, but this is a lady I know very well. As a physician, I know she is going through a lot mentally, and she deserves some support and attention,” he said.

The rerun in Ablekuma North follows disputes over the results of the December 2024 elections, which left the constituency without parliamentary representation.

Both the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) claim victory, making today’s vote a crucial moment for the area.

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