The Electoral Commission (EC) has recently undertaken the destruction of defective ballot papers intended for the Ahafo and Volta Regions in Ghana.
The defective ballots were recalled due to issues with serialization errors. The automated system meant to assign accurate serial numbers to the ballots had malfunctioned, leading to discrepancies. The destruction of these ballot papers took place through burning at the Adipa Waste Management Centre near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
This process was observed by representatives from political parties, the National Intelligence Bureau, National Security, the Ghana Police Service, and media personnel, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The EC destroyed 184 bags of defective presidential ballot papers and 66 bags of parliamentary ballot papers for the Volta Region, and 67 bags of presidential ballots and 21 bags of parliamentary ballots for the Ahafo Region. The EC has emphasized maintaining transparency throughout this process, with all affected political parties being present to witness the destruction. Certificates of destruction were issued and signed by the parties involved.
Following the destruction, the EC has plans to reprint the ballot papers for these regions. Buck Press will handle the printing for the Ahafo Region, and Acts Commercials for the Volta Region, with assurances that the new materials will meet required standards.
This action by the EC is to ensure the integrity of the upcoming December elections, addressing concerns about ballot accuracy and reinforcing public trust in the electoral process.
