The Electoral Commission (EC) has burnt defective ballot papers printed for the Ahafo and Volta regions, following mistakes discovered in the serial numbers.
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Commission transported three trucks fully loaded with the defective ballot papers from Accra to Nsawam-Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region for destruction.
The defective electoral materials were burnt in the presence of agents from political parties, the National Intelligence Bureau, Ghana Police Service, the media and officials from the EC.
A total of 184 presidential ballot paper bags and 66 parliamentary ballot paper bags for the Volta Region, as well as 67 presidential ballot paper bags and 21 parliamentary ballot paper bags for the Ahafo Region were destroyed.
According to the Commission, the move was crucial to ensure transparency.
“We want to assure the public that we have destroyed all the defective ballot papers to prevent any potential issues during the elections. The Commission has been transparent throughout this process, and we invite the public to witness the destruction of these materials,” the Deputy Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Asante Kissi, stated.
He further indicated that the exercise was not intended to give any political party undue advantage over the other.
“We have ensured transparency throughout this process, and all stakeholders, including political party agents, have endorsed the disposal certificates. By destroying the defective ballot papers, the Commission demonstrates its commitment to transparency and fairness,” he added.
- Other statistics of the burnt papers
Number of papers in bags: - VOLTA REGION
- Presidential:
100 booklets – 9,536 papers
50 booklets – 1,119 papers
25 booklets – 1,082 papers
10 booklets – 1,970 papers - AHAFO REGION
- Presidential:
100 booklets – 3,344
50 booklets – 393
25 booklets – 401
10 booklets – 65
The parliamentary ballot papers were of the same figures as presidential.
The EC is already reprinting the ballot papers for the Ahafo and Volta regions, which would be handled by Buck Press and Acts Commercials, respectively.
