The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced the decision to reprint the ballots for the Ahafo and Volta regions ahead of the 2024 elections due to issues with serialisation during the printing process. This move comes after an internal audit revealed gaps in the serialisation of the ballots, which had initially been handled through an automated system that failed to produce a correct sequence.
The Commission's audit process, which is conducted at all printing houses responsible for the production of election materials, flagged these issues. Despite the printing of the ballots proceeding without major issues, the serialisation system encountered faults, leading the EC to conclude that a manual method, used to fill in the gaps, was unreliable. As a result, the EC determined that the initial batch of ballots could not be trusted to ensure an accurate count.
During an emergency meeting of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) on November 15, 2024, the EC informed political parties of the decision to reprint the affected ballots. The printing will now be handled by Buck Press for Ahafo and Acts Commercials for Volta. Both printing companies are expected to produce new, reliable ballot papers that meet the required standards.
To maintain transparency and accountability, the EC confirmed that the faulty ballots will be shredded and incinerated. Political party agents will be present to witness the destruction process, and a Destruction Certificate will be issued to document the event.
The EC’s audit department reported the serialisation issues, which were first noticed by the Commission’s team stationed at the printing house. The Commission emphasized that no political party, either formally or informally, raised any concerns about the ballot papers during the printing process, despite having agents on-site.
This decision underscores the EC's commitment to ensuring the credibility and professionalism of the electoral process. The reprinting of the ballots is a precautionary measure to uphold global standards and prevent any potential complications during the election.
As the December 2024 elections approach, the EC has assured the public that all efforts are being made to ensure a smooth and accurate voting process, with a focus on transparency and the integrity of the ballots used in the elections.
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