Ballot discrepancies: We cannot be blamed for shortfalls – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) has clarified that the recent discrepancies associated with the ballot papers for the Volta and Bono Regions are not an exception.

The Commission said shortfalls in ballot papers have been reported in other regions and the Commission is working to resolve them.

At a meeting with the political parties on November 29, Deputy EC Chairperson for Operations, Samuel Tettey noted that the shortfalls in ballot papers are experienced normally during printing of ballots.

According to him, the EC cannot be solely blamed for the shortfalls as political party agents at printing houses have been also mandated to ensure the right figures for ballots are printed.

He stated that “as humans, we may have shortfalls. So the shortfalls, the Commission cannot be blamed because you also have your agents there and we are all checking and it is normal to have shortfall.”

“As human beings when we work, definitely there may be shortfalls and that is why you have agents there to check,” he said.

The stakeholder meeting comes at the back of EC’s announcement of shortfalls identified in ballot papers for some constituencies in the Volta Region.

According to the Commission, the shortfall will be addressed at the printing house where they were identified- Acts Commercial.

“The Electoral Commission has identified some shortfalls on Presidential and Parliamentary ballot papers for the Keta, Ketu North, Ho Central, Hohoe, and Ho West Constituencies in the Volta Region,” a letter dated November 28 and signed by the Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, read in part.

“Political Parties and Independent Presidential Candidates are to provide two (2) representatives each to observe the printing process on Friday 29th November, 2024 at 10:00 am at the premises of the Acts Commercials Printing House, Accra. Please, find attached the shortfalls of Ballot Papers to be printed,” Mr Tettey wrote in a statement on November 28, 2024.

EC identifies shortfalls in ballot papers for some constituencies in Volta Region

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