The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has emphasized that preserving the integrity and credibility of the nation’s electoral process is more important than cost savings.

Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, explained on Joy News’ PM Express on November 19 that the decision to reprint ballot papers for the Volta and Ahafo regions due to serial number discrepancies reflects the Commission’s commitment to credible elections.

“The Commission didn’t think so much in terms of the cost as to the quality of the country’s elections,” he stated.

According to Dr. Asare, the serial number discrepancies had the potential to compromise the electoral process, which could have far-reaching consequences.

“If you don’t get the serial numbers right, and someone votes for a candidate, there’s a risk that the ballot could be deemed rejected,” he explained.

Acknowledging the financial implications of the reprinting exercise, Dr. Asare reiterated that the priority was to ensure that the elections remain credible and transparent.

“We believe that the taxpayer will be more concerned about us having a system that is very peaceful, very credible, and very transparent,” he added.

To ensure accountability, the EC plans to collaborate with political parties, the Ghana Police Service, the National Intelligence Bureau, and the printing house involved to oversee the destruction of the erroneous ballot papers.

“When we finish burning them, we have what we call the destruction certificate, which all the parties are going to sign to confirm their presence during the destruction,” Dr. Asare explained.

The EC also decided to engage additional printing houses to handle the reprinting of the affected ballots, a move Dr. Asare described as vital for maintaining election integrity.

“We have a strong reputation to protect,” he stated. “For us, ensuring the integrity of the process so that all the political parties are happy is more important than the cost argument.”

Dr. Asare further emphasized the EC’s commitment to inclusivity, noting the involvement of political parties in addressing the issue.

“It will interest you to know that when we met with the parties and informed them of the issues, they tried to salvage it. But we still noticed some gaps, so we made the decision to ensure ballot integrity,” he said.

While the Commission will engage the printing house to discuss the cost implications, Dr. Asare stressed that ensuring the credibility of the elections was a non-negotiable priority.

“Inaction on this issue would have been more devastating. Just imagine people saying there are problems with the ballot papers after voting—it would certainly not bode well for the Commission,” he noted.

Concluding, Dr. Asare highlighted the EC’s unwavering dedication to delivering credible elections.

“We believe that a credible system, where all players and stakeholders are satisfied, is what matters most,” he said.