To promote transparency and build public trust, the Electoral Commission (EC) has invited journalists to observe the ballot printing process at three of the six designated printing facilities handling both presidential and parliamentary ballots for the December 7 elections.
The selected printing houses are Inolink Printing Limited, Buck Press, and Acts Commercial.
Dr. Benjamin Bannor-Bio, EC’s Director of Electoral Services, explained that only parliamentary ballots are currently being printed, as presidential ballot printing is temporarily on hold for 10 days due to the recent passing of Akua Donkor, the Ghana Freedom Party’s flagbearer.
He emphasized that the printing process is open and collaborative, with political party representatives present at every stage to verify details, such as serial numbers and constituency-specific quantities.
“When we say transparency and accountability are in motion, we don’t just say it but we mean it. The Electoral Commission of Ghana is one of the few election management institutions in the sub-region that prints ballot papers in the country, and Buck Press is one of our major stakeholders when it comes to printing the ballot. For the 2024 general election, Buck Press is printing four regions; Ashanti Oti, Savanna and Central regions.
“We are here to let you know that printing ballots is not done in secrecy. We open up to the public for you to know that we are doing it together with the political party agents. At every level, these agents are there and they are observing to ensure that the right thing is done.
“They take notice of the serial numbers, they take notice of the quantities being printed for each constituency and we give them all these details,” he stated.
He continued: “Apart from the electoral commission seal, they add their seal and take records of the same. So, in printing ballot papers, there is no secrecy, it’s so transparent.”
