With just 15 minutes to the close of special voting polls, a voter at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency was apprehended by the police for attempting to take a photograph of their marked ballot paper.
The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, has been taken to the police for further investigation.
This incident has sparked concerns about voter conduct and adherence to electoral laws, which strictly prohibit compromising the secrecy of the ballot.
Concerns About Ballot Photography in Ayawaso Central
Meanwhile, in the Ayawaso Central Constituency, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised alarms over similar incidents. According to the party, some individuals, particularly security personnel, were observed photographing their ballots after voting.
Harry Otu, the NDC Chairman for Ayawaso Central, expressed his concerns in an interview with JoyNews:
“I was seated afar, observing the process, and most of them voting Number 1. Any moment they are voting, they vote and take pictures of the votes they’ve cast.”
Mr. Otu said he reported the issue to Electoral Commission (EC) officials, urging them to take swift action:
“So I went to report to the EC official. And most of them, the police officers, are those doing those things. When I complained, I insisted that they delete the pictures they’d taken. One of the NPP agents started shouting, but to avoid chaos, I left it to the EC to handle the situation.”
Calls for Electoral Integrity
The NDC has called on the EC to take immediate steps to address these issues, emphasizing that such practices threaten the secrecy and integrity of the voting process.
This development underscores the need for stricter enforcement of electoral regulations to prevent any actions that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.