EC recalls ballot papers and postpones special voting for Eastern and Western Regions

The Electoral Commission (EC) has recalled all ballot papers designated for the Eastern and Western Regions after a defaced ballot paper was found outside the premises of the Checkpoint Printing House, the facility responsible for producing the materials.

At an emergency press briefing on Sunday, December 1, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa revealed that the decision followed a report from National Security regarding the compromised ballot paper, which had been earmarked for destruction.

Mrs. Mensa stressed that the EC’s response reflects its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.

“Some have posed the question: why reprint all the ballots when it’s only a single defaced ballot paper? Our avowed intention is to ensure and guarantee the integrity of the 2024 election,” Mrs. Mensa said.

“It has not been an easy decision to recall the ballots simply because one defaced paper was removed from the printing house. However, we believe this step is crucial to maintaining confidence in the process, she added.

To resolve the issue, the EC will collaborate with three printing houses—Buck Press, Acts Commercial, and Innolink—to reprint the ballots.

According to her, the new materials will feature enhanced security measures and revised serial numbers to clearly distinguish them from the original batch.

Accordingly, Mrs. Mensa announced a rescheduling of the special voting exercise for the two affected regions.

Originally slated for Monday, December 2, the exercise will now take place on Thursday, December 5, to allow time for the reprinting and distribution of the new ballot papers.

She reassured Ghanaians of the EC’s dedication to upholding democratic principles and called on citizens to support the Commission’s efforts in delivering a credible and transparent election.