In a move aimed at fostering transparency and enhancing public confidence, the Electoral Commission (EC) has extended an invitation to journalists to observe the ballot printing process.
This initiative will take place at three of the six designated printing facilities responsible for producing both presidential and parliamentary ballots for the upcoming December 7 elections.
The printing facilities selected for this observation are Inolink Printing Limited, Buck Press, and Acts Commercial.
Dr. Benjamin Bannor-Bio, the EC’s Director of Electoral Services, noted that the printing of parliamentary ballots is currently underway, while the printing of presidential ballots has been temporarily halted for ten days.
This pause is in response to the recent passing of Akua Donkor, the flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party.
He underscored that the printing process is designed to be transparent and collaborative, with representatives from political parties present throughout to ensure the accuracy of details, including serial numbers and quantities specific to each constituency.
“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.
He continued: “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.”