Volta and Ahafo regions 2024 election ballot papers to be reprinted because of serial number errors

Following errors in the serial numbers of ballot papers meant for the Volta and Ahafo regions for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has decided to reprint all ballot papers for the two regions.

The ballot papers have not yet been distributed to the regions [SEE LIST ATTACHED BELOW FOR DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE] and are still at the printing house. They are therefore to be destroyed. 

Political party representatives are to be invited to observe the destruction of the ballots, that is shredding and burning.  The party representatives present at the disposal will be made to sign a certificate of destruction, copies of which will be given to them.

New printing houses, Bulk and Acts Commercials, have been assigned to reprint the ballot papers. 

This was made known at an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Friday [November 15], where the EC announced plans to reprint both presidential and parliamentary ballot papers for the two affected regions - Volta and Ahafo. 

A Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the Electoral Commission, Mr Samuel Tettey who announced this at the IPAC meeting explained that the error in the serial numbers had affected the integrity of the ballot papers.

He said some concerns have been raised over the serialisation of the ballot papers for Ahafo and Volta Regions and it is following this that the decision has been taken to reprint them.

“While the printing of the ballot papers has gone down very well, the challenge faced by the Commission has been the serialisation of the numbers on the ballot papers," he said.

 “The Commission has seriously taken action to cure the defects. And has deployed teams to the printing house to correct the anomalies.

“The commission has decided to recall the ballot papers for Ahafo and the Volta regions. The Commission has decided that the two ballots will now be printed by Buck and Acts Commercials for presidential and parliamentary.”

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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