The Municipal Electoral Commission (EC) office in Damongo has been razed by fire following violent protests by political party supporters at the collation center, on 8th, December, 2024. The incident has left the office in ruins, with all contents destroyed, marking a significant disruption in the ongoing electoral collation process.
According to reports, the chaos erupted due to delays in the collation and declaration of both parliamentary and presidential election results. Claims suggest that supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were initially unsatisfied with the process. Tensions escalated when a group of supporters, frustrated by the perceived delays, stormed the collation center demanding the immediate announcement of the results, despite collation still being underway.
The military was deployed to the scene in an attempt to restore calm, successfully dispersing the crowd temporarily. However, approximately 30 minutes after the military withdrew, the supporters regrouped in larger numbers and overpowered the police officers stationed at the center. In the chaos, they vandalized the premises and set fire to the EC office, which is located directly opposite the collation center.
The violence resulted in one death and another individual sustaining injuries. St. Anne’s Hospital confirmed that one person succumbed to a gunshot wound, while another is responding to treatment after being physically assaulted. Additionally, a motorbike parked near the collation center was set ablaze during the incident. Police responded with warning shots to disperse the crowd, but significant damage had already occurred.
The fire, which quickly engulfed the EC office, destroyed all items within the building. Efforts to control the blaze were reportedly delayed, leaving the extent of the damage and an inventory of destroyed items unknown at the time of reporting.
Police officials declined to comment on the situation. The incident underscores the rising tensions surrounding the election process in the area and raises concerns about the safety of electoral officials and materials, media and party agents.
Authorities are yet to provide an official statement on the incident, while the community anxiously awaits further developments.
By Edwin Gogu
