EC promotes invites media to observe ballot printing

Accra, Ghana - November 1, 2024 - The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has taken a significant step towards promoting transparency and building public trust by inviting journalists to observe the ballot printing process for the upcoming December 7 elections.

This move allows the media to witness firsthand the printing of presidential and parliamentary ballots at three designated facilities: Inolink Printing Limited, Buck Press, and Acts Commercial.

According to Dr. Benjamin Bannor-Bio, EC's Director of Electoral Services, the printing process is currently focused on parliamentary ballots, with presidential ballot printing temporarily on hold for 10 days due to the passing of Akua Donkor, the Ghana Freedom Party's flagbearer.

Transparent and Collaborative Process

Dr. Bannor-Bio emphasized that the printing process is open and collaborative, with political party representatives present at every stage to verify crucial details.

- Serial Numbers: Political party agents verify serial numbers to ensure accuracy.
- Constituency-Specific Quantities: Agents confirm the quantities being printed for each constituency.
- Electoral Commission Seal: The EC adds its seal, and agents take records of the same.

“When we say transparency and accountability are in motion, we don’t just say it but we mean it. The Electoral Commission of Ghana is one of the few election management institutions in the sub-region that prints ballot papers in the country, and Buck Press is one of our major stakeholders when it comes to printing the ballot. For the 2024 general election, Buck Press is printing four regions; Ashanti Oti, Savanna and Central regions.

“We are here to let you know that printing ballots is not done in secrecy. We open up to the public for you to know that we are doing it together with the political party agents. At every level, these agents are there and they are observing to ensure that the right thing is done.

“They take notice of the serial numbers, they take notice of the quantities being printed for each constituency and we give them all these details,” he stated.

“Apart from the electoral commission seal, they add their seal and take records of the same. So, in printing ballot papers, there is no secrecy, it’s so transparent,'' he added.

Source: Lead News Online