Electoral Commission Orders Reprinting of Eastern and Western Region Ballot Papers Over Leakage
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the recall and reprinting of ballot papers for the Eastern and Western Regions following the detection of a security breach involving the initial batch of ballot papers.
Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Commission, disclosed this development during an emergency press conference held on Sunday, December 1. She explained that the decision was taken after National Security informed the Commission of a compromised ballot paper from the printing process.
Details of the Incident
According to the EC, a single defaced ballot paper, designated for destruction, was removed from Checkpoint Printing Limited, the company responsible for producing the ballot papers. The printing house, which has been a trusted partner of the EC since 1992, failed to prevent the unauthorized removal of the defaced paper.
“Our investigations reveal that only one defaced ballot paper, intended for the presidential election in the Eastern Region, was removed from the printing facility,” Mensa stated. “Checkpoint Printing, under the supervision of the National Investigation Bureau, National Security, the police, and political party agents, identified the breach. Despite the ballot being slated for destruction, it somehow found its way out of the premises.”
Immediate Actions Taken
To safeguard the integrity of the election process, the EC has decided to destroy all previously printed ballot papers for the Eastern and Western Regions. The destruction will be conducted by burning, and the reprinting process has been assigned to BuckPress and Innolink, two trusted printing firms. The reprinted ballots will feature enhanced security measures and revised serial numbers to distinguish them from the compromised batch.
“The newly reprinted ballots will include additional security features, ensuring their authenticity. These changes will clearly differentiate them from the earlier batch and reinforce the integrity of the electoral process,” Mensa assured.
Adjustments to Voting Schedule
The EC has also suspended the special voting exercise scheduled for Monday, December 2, in the two affected regions. Instead, special voting for the Eastern and Western Regions will now take place on Thursday, December 5, ahead of the general election on Saturday, December 7.
This rescheduling aims to provide ample time for the reprinting and distribution of the new ballots. All political parties and candidates have been briefed on the situation and have agreed to the measures.
Previous Incidents and Further Measures
This is not the first time the EC has had to reprint ballot papers during this electoral cycle. Similar incidents were reported in the Ahafo and Volta Regions due to errors in the initial printing. Additionally, the Commission has identified shortfalls in ballot paper distribution to some regions and is working to address the issue.
The EC remains committed to upholding the credibility of the election process and assures the public that these proactive measures are necessary to maintain trust and transparency.
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