We printed ballot papers in excess - Dr. Afari-Gyan

Chairman for the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, on Monday revealed that before the 2012 general elections were held, the commission made provision to ensure that an excess of ten percent ballot papers were added to the total figure intended to be printed.

Seven printing houses, according to Dr. Afari Gyan, were selected and involved in the printing of ballot papers, which were issued on the day of voting.

Asked by counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison, whether he knows the names of the printing houses that printed the ballots, Dr. Afari-Gyan mentioned “Acts Commercial, Assembly Press, Buck Press, Check Point, Fonstat, Innolink and Yasarko” as firms responsible for the printing of last year’s ballot papers.

He was, however, quick to point out that all parties that participated in last year’s elections had agents who represented their respective parties during the entire period the printing took place.

He further indicated that before printing took place, the Electoral Commission, made the representatives aware of the number of ballots expected to be printed.

Lawyer Addison then asked the means by which the parties were notified, to which the EC boss replied: "the parties were written to officially".

He then asked the witness (Afari-Gyan) to produce that letter tomorrow; a request Afari-Gyan gladly obliged to.

“We have been dealing with the parties all the time and everytime we are going to undertake a major assignment, we do indicate to them and give them documentations relating to the impending activity”, he said.