NPP rejects parliamentary ballot papers
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Bernard Antwi Bosiako, has rejected all the printed parliamentary ballot papers that were brought to the region for distribution to electoral districts because they did not have the initials, “NPP” on it.
He insisted that the anomaly, which affected only the NPP on the ballot sheet that would be used for the December 7, 2016 polls, should be corrected and brand new ones printed to ensure that the party was not put in a disadvantaged position.
Electoral Commission
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Serebour Quaicoe, he confirmed that the initials did not appear on the ballot paper and that “I have referred the matter to my superiors in Accra.”
Chairman Wontumi
Mr Wontumi, popularly known as‘ Chairman Wontumi’, consequently appealed to all peace-loving Ghanaians especially the Peace Council to call the EC to order and stop it from subtly and deliberately undertaking activities that tended to disrupt the election and that while all the other candidates have their initials printed boldly against their emblem, that of the NPP was conspicuously missing.
He wondered why the notice of polls informing and educating the people about what they would see on Election Day was different from what would really be used for the real election.
This came to light when leaders and agents of political parties gathered at the Ashanti Regional Police Depot to inspect the ballot papers and observe their onward distribution to the various district police command for safe keeping.
It was at that moment that Mr Wontumi detected the anomaly and pointed it out to the EC officials.
Despite the protestations from the NPP regional chairman, the ballot papers have been distributed to the various districts within the various constituencies for safe keeping till December 7, 2016 when they would be used.
The EC started dispatching ballot papers to the regional capitals for onward dispatch to the various districts.