The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has confirmed the destruction of defective and surplus electoral materials for the Ahafo and Volta Regions, ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The commission, in a press statement issued on November 15, revealed that it had recalled ballot papers for these regions due to serialisation errors.
The statement, signed by Samuel Tettey, the Deputy Chairman of Operations at the EC, explained that the defective materials were destroyed on Saturday, November 16, under strict supervision.
The destruction was carried out through burning, with several stakeholders present to witness the process.
Among those present during the destruction were agents from the political parties, representatives from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), National Security, the Ghana Police Service, and the Electoral Commission itself.
The EC ensured that the process was transparent, with all relevant parties involved to safeguard the integrity of the election process.
The EC emphasised its commitment to transparency, reassuring stakeholders that any additional ballot papers with serial number discrepancies would be accounted for and destroyed in due course.
The commission stated that it would continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that no further defective materials were in circulation.
The commission also outlined plans to account for all ballot papers printed for the Ahafo and Volta regions.
The destruction of these additional defective ballot papers will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2024, to maintain the integrity of the upcoming elections.
In its statement, the EC reiterated its commitment to ensuring a free and fair election process.
The commission also promised to inform the political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the planned destruction, allowing them to observe the process to ensure full accountability.