The Electoral Commission (EC) has urged the public to disregard media reports that some ballot papers for this year’s elections have been burnt.
The commission in a release to the press explained that the processes involving the printing of ballot papers involve all agents of the political parties and it will, therefore, be surprising that ballots would be burnt in broad daylight in the presence of security officials.
The denial comes after the electoral management body was accused by an agent of the main opposition National Democratic (NDC) of burning ballot papers.
Clarifying the events that led to the burning of the ballot papers, the EC in a statement said: “On Wednesday, 25 November 2020, it was agreed between political parties, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Ghana Police Service, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and staff of Innolink Printing House that waste and damaged ballots would be burnt at the Old Fadama Mortuary incineration site.
“The above-listed stakeholders including the agent of the National Democratic Congress signed an undertaking to this effect. The burning was to take place on 27 November 2020.”
The EC explained further that ballots meant to be burnt were shredded and political parties in full knowledge that the burning at the mortuary road incineration plant was of shredded ballot papers did not go to witness it.
The NDC agent according to the EC, took advantage of their absence and invited journalists from Joy News to cover the burning and “falsely” claimed that the ballots burnt were the one million extra ballots the EC had allegedly printed.
His motive, the EC said in its statement, was to justify the earlier fabrications put out on social media to the effect that the commission was secretly printing additional ballots.
The commission has, however, assured Ghanaians that it will continue to deliver its mandate fairly.
Attached is the full EC statement:
