The public has been reassured by the Electoral Commission (EC) of its dedication to accountability and openness in the next elections.
Ahead of the elections on December 7, there have been allegations of voting paper shortages in the Bono and Volta Regions.
In order to guarantee accuracy in the printing and distribution of ballot papers, the Commission explained that its regional personnel had found the disparities during routine verification procedures.
“This additional verification process is a crucial step to identify and correct any issues before Election Day,” the EC wrote in a document sent to printing firms and political parties.
The Commission underlined that the identification of these deficiencies demonstrates the efficacy of its accountability procedures, which mandate that regional and district employees examine every ballot that is received and make sure it matches the data given to printers and political parties.
“It is the Commission’s staff at the regional level that discovered these issues and reported back to the Commission as required. It is the Commission that ordered the reprinting of the shortfalls and informed the political parties. The Commission has nothing to hide,” stated Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman of Operations.
Similar deficiencies were found and fixed in the Greater Accra, Western North, Upper West, Western, and Bono East Regions, according to the EC. Written notice was given to political parties, and any inconsistencies were corrected by reprinting. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency by stating that it has always included political parties in regulating the destruction of defective ballots as well as their reprinting.
False narratives that emphasize vote paper deficiencies in the Volta Region without addressing comparable problems in other regions have been denounced by the EC for spreading on social media. According to the Commission, these stories are an effort to damage its standing and instill distrust in the public.
“Why would the Commission inform political parties in writing if it had anything to hide? The memo in circulation demonstrates the Commission’s resolve to operate transparently and accountably,” Tettey emphasized.
In order to prevent being influenced by false information, the Commission has advised the public to ignore mischievous behavior and to seek clarification from official sources. It gave Ghanaians the reassurance that every effort is being made to guarantee the legitimacy and integrity of the election process.
Source: myjoyonline.com