The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has expressed its readiness to conduct the special voting exercise slated for Monday, December 2, ahead of the December 7 polls.
The exercise taking place in 328 special voting centres is exclusive to members of the security agencies, media, and electoral officials who have applied and been processed to cast their ballot.
In an engagement with the National Security Task Force, led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, said: “We are confident that we will have a successful special voting arrangements on Monday. We have adequate supply of ballot papers, indelible ink and the various forms that may be necessary, and the biometric verification devices are in place for a smooth and seamless special voting exercise.”
“We stand in readiness. We are ready to conduct a peaceful, credible, transparent and fair elections on December 2 and December 7,” Jean Mensa added.
The individuals who have registered can verify their participation on the website of the Commission, Jean Mensa stated. However, the special voter list on the EC’s website is inaccessible, per checks by The Independent Ghana.
Reacting to safety concerns, Dr Dampare, on behalf of the National Election Task Force, indicated that the security officers will work with the Commission to have a successful exercise.
“We are clear in our minds on all the issues that you need and want us to address so that that aspect will be successful. We will work wit you and your technical team to firm up,” the IGP said.
A little over 900,00 new voters have been added to the voter register ahead of the polls. The finalised voter register has been disseminated to the various political parties, according to the Commission.
Ballot papers for most regions and all registers have already been dispatched to the 16 regions, except for the Northern, Bono, and Bono East Regions. The ballot papers for the afformentioned regions are in the custody of the security services via the police armories.
The EC will use aid memoirs—that will be pasted at vantage points—polling stations, polling centres, during the election to assist electorates on correction of forms and other grey areas.
On security issues, Dr Dampare assured Ghanaians of a peaceful election process. He stressed that “we’ll do all it takes to ensure that this country continues to be at peace with itself. We will protect every Ghanaian, and we will protect every stakeholder in this election.”