The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is “fully ready” for the December 7 elections, according to Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on November 19, Dr. Asare highlighted the Commission’s extensive preparations, asserting that several key tasks had been completed ahead of schedule.
“I wouldn’t only say we are ready; we are fully ready with 18 days to go,” he emphasized. “There are a number of tasks that must be completed, and we are well ahead of schedule. Come December 2 for special voting and December 7 for the main elections, we are fully prepared. I believe Ghanaians are equally ready for this election.”
Milestones Achieved
Dr. Asare detailed significant progress, particularly in the printing and distribution of ballot papers.
“As of now, over 50% of the ballot papers have been delivered to the regional capitals under the care of the Regional Police,” he noted. “Additionally, training for election officials, a critical component of the process, has commenced. National-level training has been completed, with regional and constituency-level training set to follow.”
He also mentioned that the EC’s thorough planning had positioned them to conduct elections earlier if necessary. “If the elections were to be held next week, we would still be ready,” he said confidently.
Addressing Minor Challenges
The EC encountered minor setbacks in the Ahafo and Volta regions due to ballot serial number discrepancies. Dr. Asare assured that these issues were being resolved.
“We identified issues with serial numbers and decided to reprint the affected ballots at another facility. We are confident this will be completed this week for distribution to the regions,” he explained.
Distribution Progress
Dr. Asare revealed that nearly 90% of ballot distribution tasks were complete. “Approximately 80% of both presidential and parliamentary ballot papers are already in the regions,” he said.
He also addressed adjustments following the death of Akua Donkor, the flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party. “When her passing occurred, over 90% of the presidential ballots had already been printed. Once the necessary changes were approved, reprinting was swiftly completed.”
Commitment to Seamless Elections
Dr. Asare reiterated the EC’s dedication to ensuring an efficient and credible election process. “We have a clear plan in place, and based on this, I can confidently state that we are fully ready,” he assured.
He urged Ghanaians to trust the Commission’s efforts to deliver a smooth election on December 7. “The Electoral Commission is working tirelessly to make this election a success,” he concluded.
