Pressure group Election Watch Ghana is alleging that the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) is awarding the contract of printing of ballots and notices of polls for the December 7 election to Assembly Press and Buck Press.
It points out that this is a clear case of conflict of interest as the heads of the two printing firms are politically exposed.
“The EC’s intention to award ballot printing and notice of polls to Assembly Press (managed by David Asante) and Buck Press (managed by Mr. Buckman) reeks of cronyism and corruption,” Election Watch Ghana stressed in a press release dated Wednesday, October 09, 2024.
“This blatant conflict of interest undermines the EC’s independence,” the statement added.
Signed by convenors Mark Ewusi Arkoh and Jude Balma, the statement also took on the EC over its recently telecast Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.
It described the event as “a festival of corruption and collusion between EC officials and self-serving politicians.”
“This shameful spectacle has destroyed public trust and undermined the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process,” it added.
It raised concerns over the voters’ register which has become the main point for discussion ahead of the polls.
The group is, therefore, threatening to go all lengths to ensure that the right register is used for the upcoming general elections.
It demanded the formation of a multi-party team of auditors to ensure that the register is credible for use.
“The demand for a multi party team to examine the IT system should be accepted by the EC and hope they will not fill it with their lazy corrupt surrogates but experience and nationalistic reps from political parties without interference from the EC,” it added in portions of the statement.
Find below the full statement issued by the group:
09/10/2024
Press Statement
Electoral Commission’s Complicity in Corruption: A Threat to Ghana’s Democracy
The recent iPac meeting orchestrated by the Electoral Commission (EC) was just a festival of corruption and collusion between EC officials and self-serving politicians. This shameful spectacle has destroyed public trust and undermined the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.
The EC’s initial provisional register, riddled with errors and discrepancies, was rightfully rejected by the Ghanaian people and credible political parties. We condemn the EC’s attempt to impose a flawed register, designed to subvert the will of the people and we will use any means necessary except the court to reject any form of register they present till the right one
The demand for a multi party team to examine the IT system should be accepted by the EC and hope they will not fill it with their lazy corrupt surrogates but experience and nationalistic reps from political parties without interference from the EC.
The EC’s intention to award ballot printing and notice of polls to Assembly Press (managed by David Asante) and Buck Press (managed by Mr. Buckman) reeks of cronyism and corruption. This blatant conflict of interest undermines the EC’s independence.
Ghanaians will not tolerate electoral manipulation. We will defend our democracy against EC’s complicity in corruption.
Signed,
Mark Ewusi Arkoh
………………………….
Convener
Jude Balma
………………………….
Convener
