Electoral Commission (EC) has reassured the public of its commitment to transparency and accountability in the upcoming elections.This comes after reports of a shortage of ballot papers in the Bono and Volta Regions ahead of the December 7 polls.According to the EC, these challenges were identified by its regional staff during routine checks, a standard procedure to ensure the correct printing and distribution of ballots.

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In a memo sent to political parties and printing companies, the EC highlighted that this extra verification step is important to identify and fix any problems before Election Day.

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The Commission also added that finding these shortages shows the effectiveness of its accountability system, which requires staff at regional and district levels to review all received ballots and ensure they match the quantities provided to printers and political parties.“It is the Commission’s staff at the regional level that discovered these issues and reported back to the Commission as required.

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It is the Commission that ordered the reprinting of the shortfalls and informed the political parties. The Commission has nothing to hide,” stated Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman of Operations.

EC revealed that similar shortages of ballot papers were found and corrected in regions including Greater Accra, Western North, Upper West, Western, and Bono East. Political parties were informed in writing,

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and reprints were made to address the discrepancies. The Commission emphasised that it has always involved political parties in both the reprinting process and the disposal of defective ballots, reinforcing its commitment to transparency.The EC also criticised misleading claims on social media that focus only on ballot paper shortages in the Volta Region without mentioning similar issues in other areas.

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The Commission called these claims an attempt to damage its reputation and create distrust among the public.“Why would the Commission inform political parties in writing if it had anything to hide? The memo in circulation demonstrates the Commission’s resolve to operate transparently and accountably,” Tettey emphasised.

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The Commission has urged the public to disregard acts of mischief and to seek clarity from official sources to avoid being swayed by misinformation. It assured Ghanaians that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.

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