Electoral Commission Dismisses Claims of Excess Ballot Printing for Upcoming Election
The Electoral Commission (EC) has urged the public to disregard rumors of excess ballot papers being printed for the December 7 general election, clarifying that ballot printing is strictly controlled and transparent.
The Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, made this statement during a media tour of select printing facilities. Dr. Asare emphasized that, consistent with past practice, only two percent additional ballots are being printed beyond the registered voter count for each polling station, a measure agreed upon with political parties and stakeholders.
“I don’t think any political party—including the NDC and NPP—would overlook every step of the ballot printing process if excess papers were involved,” Dr. Asare noted, referencing the intense oversight and party seals applied to bagged ballot papers to prevent discrepancies.
Transparency Measures
The media tour included three of the six printing companies involved in producing the ballots: Acts Commercials Ltd, Buck Press, and Innolink. At each location, agents from political parties, independent candidate representatives, and security personnel were on-site to monitor the process.
Dr. Asare expressed confidence in the measures ensuring accountability, noting, “Printing is done with the full participation of political parties, and we appreciate the collaboration from party agents and other stakeholders.”
Boosting Public Confidence
The EC’s Director of Electoral Services, Benjamin Bannor-Bio, explained that these visits aim to reinforce the commission’s commitment to transparency. By providing public access to the printing process, the EC hopes to bolster confidence in the electoral system.
“We want the public to know that the EC has nothing to hide,” Mr. Bannor-Bio said, adding that transparency at every level of the process underscores the commission’s dedication to a fair election.
