The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced the recall and reprinting of ballot papers for the Eastern and Western regions following the leakage of a defaced Presidential election ballot paper.

EC Chairperson Jean Mensa disclosed that the leaked paper, intended for destruction, somehow left the printing house, prompting immediate action to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections. As a result, the special voting exercise in the Eastern and Western regions, initially scheduled for Monday, December 2, has been postponed to Thursday, December 5. Special voting in other regions will proceed as planned.

To address the issue, the EC has enhanced the security features on the reprinted ballots for the two affected regions to distinguish them from the compromised batch. All political parties and candidates have been briefed on the situation, and they have expressed their support for the Commission’s decision.

The EC has reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process. This proactive measure is intended to maintain public confidence and uphold the integrity of the elections.