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 9. "This blatant conflict of interest undermines the EC's independence." 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." The group is, therefore, threatening to go all lengths to ensure that the right register is used for the upcoming general elections.