The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has recently confirmed its decision to destroy ballot papers with errors that were intended for distribution to the Volta and Ahafo Regions. This announcement comes in the wake of discrepancies found in the serial numbers of the ballot papers, leading the EC to initiate a reprinting process for these regions.
During the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Friday, November 15, this decision was officially communicated. In a statement released on November 16, the EC assured that representatives from various political parties would be present to witness the destruction of the faulty ballot papers. Additionally, a Destruction Certificate will be issued and signed by the observers.
The re-printing of the ballot papers for Ahafo and Volta Regions will be undertaken by Buck Press and Acts Commercials respectively. The affected ballot papers will be shredded and incinerated in accordance with standard procedures, with the presence of political party agents to oversee the process.
The EC explained that the automated system initially employed to ensure accurate serial numbers had deficiencies, which led the Printing House to resort to a manual process to rectify these issues. However, the Commission determined that this manual system was not foolproof and could not guarantee an accurate serialization of the ballots, prompting the decision to reprint.
It is worth noting that the Commission promptly informed the Political Parties of this development at an Emergency IPAC Meeting on Friday, 15th November 2024.
This proactive approach by the Electoral Commission of Ghana underscores its commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that all ballot papers meet the highest standards of accuracy. With the involvement of political party representatives and adherence to transparent protocols, the EC is taking necessary steps to address any discrepancies and maintain public confidence in the electoral system.
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