Ballot shortfalls not limited to Volta and Bono Regions – EC

The Electoral Commission has clarified that the discrepancies and shortfalls detected in the ballot papers for the 2024 elections are not limited to just Volta and Bono Regions as perceived.

Deputy Chairman of the Commission in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare at an IPAC meeting on November 29 said its Regional Directors in Greater Accra, Western North, Upper West, Western and Bono East Regions have reported similar occurrences which has been resolved.

“For the benefit of the general public similar shortfalls and discrepancies were discovered and reported back to the head office by our Regional Directors. The shortfalls occurred in Greater Accra, Western North, Upper West, Western and Bono East Regions.

“So the Volta Region and the Bono Region are not the exception so the political parties were informed and the reprinting was done,” he noted.

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

Speaking at the IPAC meeting on November 29, 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.”

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.

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Ballot discrepancies: We cannot be blamed for shortfalls – EC

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