The distribution of ballot materials to the Northern, Bono, and Bono East regions has been delayed, raising concerns about the Electoral Commission’s assurances of full preparedness for the upcoming December 7 general elections.
According to JoyNews sources in the Oti Region, materials were yet to be loaded onto trucks for delivery.
However, a Deputy Chair of the EC, Dr Bossman Asare, in a yet-be-aired interview provided a breakdown of dispatched materials and those still outstanding.
He affirmed the Commission’s readiness to conduct the elections, stating, “As we speak, a chunk of them, almost over 50% of them have got into the regional capitals. Apart from that, training of officials, which is very critical has also started. We’ve done the national level and we are about to take off of the regional level and then the constituency level.
“And for all these, we have a clear plan in place. So based on that, I can conveniently say that we are fully ready,” he said.
Dr Bossman Asare stated that the Commission could still successfully manage the elections, noting that the only issue is the incorrect serial numbers detected in the Ahafo and Volta region’s ballot papers.
He noted that the reprinting has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
“Well, if elections were next week, we would still be able to do it. The reason why we would still be able to do it is that, with the exception of the Ahafo and Volta regions, which we announced last week that because of certain issues we’ve identified with the serial numbers, we’re going to have them printed again in another printing house, those who are printing too, we have strong evidence that this week they should be able to finish for us to transport them to the various regions.”
The Deputy EC Chairperson also assured that the transfer of ballot papers to the regional capitals includes both parliamentary and presidential ballots.
“A number of the regions that have seen the ballots being transferred…. about 80% of them, both the parliamentary and the presidential are in the regional capitals.
“Unfortunately, when the flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party passed on to glory, we had printed over 90% of the presidential ballots. So as soon as that embargo was lifted, a number of them were able to finish even in that same week,” he added.
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