Yendi has been gripped by a shortage of ballot papers, causing tensions among political parties.
Suhuyini Saharan, a Joy News reporter, disclosed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleged discrepancies in the distribution process, claiming some ballot papers went missing after being collected from the Electoral Commission (EC) and transported through regional and constituency channels.
According to the NDC, the figures received at the national level did not align with the number of ballots delivered to Yendi.
Party officials noted that upon the materials’ arrival, the shortage was evident, prompting extensive discussions before a temporary resolution was reached.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) also expressed concern, describing the situation as confusing. An NPP representative highlighted discrepancies between the expected and delivered ballot counts, raising questions about the accuracy of the process.
In response, a director from the EC, speaking to Suhuyini Saharan, acknowledged the issue but suggested the shortage could be a mix-up during transportation.
“The materials were sealed and intact, so pinpointing the problem is challenging,” he said. “While we cannot dismiss the possibility of a shortage, a thorough sorting of all the bags is necessary before drawing conclusions.”
The EC official urged calm, requesting all parties to exercise patience as investigations continue.
Following a tense hour-long meeting, the political parties agreed on a provisional measure to address the shortage. It was decided to increase the number of polling agents at each station to three.
“Since the missing ballots could not be accounted for, deploying additional polling agents ensures that any ballot books arriving are properly monitored and do not end up in ballot boxes unnoticed,” explained a senior party official.
The situation remains under review as stakeholders work to resolve the issue and ensure transparency.
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