Electoral Commission Ensures Transparency in Ballot Printing Amid Allegations
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has taken steps to promote transparency in the December 7 ballot printing process by granting media access to several ballot printing facilities. This initiative comes in response to allegations by John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, that the EC is producing excess ballots and that these could potentially be handed over to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) instead of being shredded in front of party agents as stipulated.
In a recent tour organized by the EC, journalists were invited to visit three of the six designated printing facilities—Buck Press, Innolink, and Acts Commercials Ltd—accompanied by party representatives, police, and national security operatives. The EC’s Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, led the tour, highlighting this as a first-of-its-kind initiative to demonstrate the Commission's commitment to transparency.
During the tour, Benjamin Bannor-Bio, the EC’s Director of Electoral Services, explained that the move was designed to reassure the public of the Commission's impartiality. “We are committed to conducting an open electoral process,” Bannor-Bio stated. “Party agents carefully monitor serial numbers, quantities for each constituency, and other details at every stage. This process is meant to build confidence among the public that every ballot paper is accounted for, and that there are no hidden activities.”
To further reinforce the integrity of the printing process, the EC allows party representatives to add their own seals on the ballot papers and take records to prevent any unauthorized changes. Bannor-Bio emphasized that "transparency and security" are central to the printing process, underscoring the EC’s adherence to open practices.
The EC expressed satisfaction with the cooperation among political party agents, security agencies, and other stakeholders during the process. Dr. Bossman Asare assured that the active presence and involvement of these parties ensure that each ballot printed will be duly accounted for. “With everyone involved, from sealing ballot papers to safeguarding warehouses, the transparency of this process is clear,” he said.
However, despite the EC’s efforts to ensure transparency, Mahama remains skeptical, citing past electoral issues and raising concerns that the EC’s procedures may not be entirely trustworthy. During a recent rally, he emphasized the NDC's commitment to resist any attempts to manipulate the election outcome, urging party agents and election observers to maintain vigilance during the entire election process.
The EC's decision to open up its printing process marks a significant step toward transparency, aiming to address public concerns and reinforce trust in Ghana's electoral system. While skepticism from some quarters remains, the EC continues to promote an open approach to election preparations, inviting all parties to observe and engage in the process.
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