Kofi Akpaloo Urges Electoral Commission to Reprint 2024 Presidential Ballots, Citing Concerns Over Akua Donkor’s Inclusion

Kofi Akpaloo, the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reprint the 2024 presidential ballots, citing concerns about the inclusion of the late Akua Donkor, former Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) candidate, on the ballot paper. Akpaloo argues that the deceased candidate’s image could mislead voters, potentially impacting the election results.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, November 13, Akpaloo emphasized that keeping Donkor’s image on the ballot could lead to voter confusion and possibly spark disputes over the final tally. “People are going to vote for Akua Donkor, and we all know she is not alive,” he remarked. “Are we going to ignore those votes, or will they be counted? We don’t want a situation where a candidate challenges the results because of a discrepancy in vote percentages.”

Akpaloo questioned the EC’s decision not to reprint the ballots, pointing out that if a new GFP candidate had been approved, the EC would likely have issued a reprint to reflect the change. “Leaving her image on the ballot raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and could affect public perception of the election,” he added. Akpaloo stressed that financial concerns should not deter the EC from reprinting ballots if it means preserving the integrity of the election.

“They should forget about the money involved and focus on creating a peaceful environment for this election,” he urged. Akpaloo also dismissed the need for re-balloting, explaining that the GFP’s position on the ballot could simply be removed, with subsequent candidates moved up, similar to parliamentary ballots where a withdrawn candidate’s spot is removed.

Akpaloo added that although he was not present at the recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, his General Secretary raised these concerns, which the EC reportedly did not address. In light of this, Akpaloo is considering legal action to challenge the EC’s decision.

The EC has not yet issued a response to Akpaloo’s statements, adding a new layer of debate to the upcoming December election.