How to resolve AdBlock issue? EC Conducts Rescheduled Special Voting in Eastern and Western Regions
Thursday, 05 December 2024 | Ghana
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is conducting a special voting exercise today, Thursday, 5th December 2024, in the Eastern and Western regions. This voting is a precursor to the general elections scheduled for Saturday, 7th December, and involves specific groups such as security personnel, media practitioners, and election officials who will be on duty on election day.
This exercise was initially scheduled for Monday, 2nd December 2024, but was postponed following an alarming discovery that raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process. A defaced ballot paper, marked for destruction, was found outside the Checkpoint Printing House, one of the institutions responsible for printing ballots. Although the issue specifically concerned ballot papers for the Eastern Region, the same printing house was also responsible for the Western Region's ballots.
Out of caution, the EC decided to recall and reprint ballot papers for both regions, a process that delayed the exercise. At an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Sunday, 1st December, the EC announced the postponement and explained the measures being taken to uphold the credibility of the election.
The reprinting and subsequent delivery of the new ballot materials to the Eastern and Western regions were completed on Wednesday, 4th December. This ensured that the special voting exercise could proceed smoothly today.
Speaking on the issue, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to transparency and accountability. "We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that the integrity of the process is maintained," she assured stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations.
While the earlier special voting exercise held on 2nd December across the remaining 14 regions went off without major incident, the Eastern and Western regions' delay created tension among political parties and candidates. However, the EC’s swift action to address the issue and restore confidence has been widely noted.
Today’s exercise marks the final stage of special voting ahead of the general elections. It plays a critical role in ensuring that personnel who will be working on election day are able to fulfill their civic responsibilities without compromising their duties.
As Ghana moves closer to its election day, the EC's handling of this incident underscores the importance of vigilance and responsiveness in preserving democratic processes. Stakeholders and citizens alike will be watching closely as the elections unfold.
This exercise was initially scheduled for Monday, 2nd December 2024, but was postponed following an alarming discovery that raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process. A defaced ballot paper, marked for destruction, was found outside the Checkpoint Printing House, one of the institutions responsible for printing ballots. Although the issue specifically concerned ballot papers for the Eastern Region, the same printing house was also responsible for the Western Region's ballots.
Out of caution, the EC decided to recall and reprint ballot papers for both regions, a process that delayed the exercise. At an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Sunday, 1st December, the EC announced the postponement and explained the measures being taken to uphold the credibility of the election.
The reprinting and subsequent delivery of the new ballot materials to the Eastern and Western regions were completed on Wednesday, 4th December. This ensured that the special voting exercise could proceed smoothly today.
Speaking on the issue, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to transparency and accountability. "We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that the integrity of the process is maintained," she assured stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations.
While the earlier special voting exercise held on 2nd December across the remaining 14 regions went off without major incident, the Eastern and Western regions' delay created tension among political parties and candidates. However, the EC’s swift action to address the issue and restore confidence has been widely noted.
Today’s exercise marks the final stage of special voting ahead of the general elections. It plays a critical role in ensuring that personnel who will be working on election day are able to fulfill their civic responsibilities without compromising their duties.
As Ghana moves closer to its election day, the EC's handling of this incident underscores the importance of vigilance and responsiveness in preserving democratic processes. Stakeholders and citizens alike will be watching closely as the elections unfold.