The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has terminated its contract with Yasarko Printing Press Limited, initially tasked with printing ballot papers for the Oti and Western North regions for the upcoming December 7 general elections.
The printing responsibility has now been reassigned to Buck Press Limited and Acts Commercials Limited, which will handle the ballot papers for the Oti and Western North regions respectively.
The decision was announced in a statement released on Friday, 25 October 2024, signed by the Deputy Chairman for Operations, Samuel Tettey, in response to increased scrutiny from the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the transparency and fairness of the electoral preparations.
The NDC had expressed concerns about Yasarko Printing Press Limited’s capacity and neutrality in managing such a critical electoral task, prompting the EC to provide assurances on measures to prevent ballot tampering.
The party emphasized the importance of stringent oversight over contracted firms, especially in regions with closely contested parliamentary seats.
Since commencing the ballot printing process on Friday, 11 October 2024, the EC has been under close scrutiny from political parties and civil society organizations.
The statement reaffirmed the EC’s commitment to transparency and impartiality, assuring all stakeholders that Buck Press Limited and Acts Commercials Limited will adhere to the same high standards to ensure the security and accuracy of the ballot papers.
