The Electoral Commission (EC) has asked the public to disregard images circulating on social media purported to be ballots for the Ayawaso Wuogon By-election accompanied by a publication to the effect.
The publication explained that the ballots were seized from a group of men in the bushes near the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy Chairperson of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare:, “The purported images are fake and should be disregarded by well-meaning Ghanaians. The so-called ‘ballots’ bear the old logo of the Commission, which was discarded by the Commission last year,” the statement noted.
It explained that the new logo, which is on the surface of the authentic ballots, bears the Coat of Arms of the State, an eagle, a ballot box and a hand casting its vote.
The statement said the process of printing ballots was meticulously policed by all political parties in an election and the security agencies, adding that the selected political parties’ agents remained at the printing houses all through the processes.
“Once printing is completed, the ballots are transported to the nearest police armoury under the supervision of the political parties and the Police. The transportation process is also monitored and policed until the ballots are securely locked up in the armoury.”
The EC, therefore, urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to ignore the fake news and videos, which mischievous members of the society would seek to flood the social media space with in the coming days and months.
“We are aware that these elements in our society are planning to spread fake news and videos in order to create fear and panic and cause disaffection for the Electoral Commission,” it said.
“Their activities are aimed at discrediting and impugning on the integrity of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons, Commission members and the Electoral Commission as a whole”.
“The Electoral Commission remains committed to conducting credible, transparent and fair elections that will uphold the sovereign will of the people,” the statement said.
Read attached statement:
