EC Rejects ‘Lies’ That They Are Printing Excess Ballots

The Electoral Commission (EC) has strongly refuted accusations that it is secretly printing ballot papers in quantities beyond those agreed upon for the upcoming 2024 general elections. Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC, addressed the claims during a recent media tour of the printing facilities tasked with producing the ballots. He emphasized that the EC’s ballot distribution is transparent, with detailed statistics provided to all political parties, ensuring that each region and constituency receives an accurate number of ballot papers.

Dr. Asare clarified that each stage of the ballot printing process is closely monitored, with political party representatives present to verify counts and seals. “This is the specific number designated for each region and each constituency. If there’s any claim that the EC has printed excess ballots, it is entirely false. The political parties are aware of the numbers for each region and constituency,” he stated. He also highlighted that the EC has only added a two-percent buffer to accommodate unforeseen needs, a standard protocol aimed at ensuring smooth electoral operations.

He went on to debunk allegations of excess ballots, specifically noting that rumors of an additional 2,000 or 3,000 ballots per constituency were baseless. The oversight of the process, Dr. Asare explained, involves rigorous checks by both EC officials and party agents. Once the printing and counting are completed, all ballots for each constituency are sealed in bags marked by both the EC and the party agents. “Transparency is paramount in this process,” he affirmed, ensuring that each constituency’s ballots are accurately accounted for.

The EC’s response comes after Richard Dzakpa, supervisor of agents for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), alleged that printing houses responsible for ballots for regions considered strongholds of the two leading parties—the Ashanti and Eastern regions for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Savannah and North East regions for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—were each printing an additional 3,000 ballots per constituency. Mr. Dzakpa expressed concerns over what he perceived as an unusual number of ballots classified as “internal operational losses” by the printing facilities, hinting at potential irregularities in the process.

The EC has reiterated that it is committed to a fair and transparent election process and that party representatives’ active involvement throughout printing serves as a robust check against any potential discrepancies.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com