Special Aide to NDC Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has described the Electoral Commission (EC) as ‘incompetent’ following reports of ballot paper shortages in several constituencies in the Volta Region.
Her comment comes after the EC acknowledged the shortages on November 28, which raised concerns across the country.
In a subsequent press briefing on November 29, the Commission clarified that the shortage was not isolated to the Volta Region and assured the public that its staff was working to manage the situation.
The affected areas include Keta, Ketu North, Ho Central, Hohoe, and Ho West.
Speaking at the Legal Green Forum for law students and legal practitioners, Mrs. Mogtari stressed the importance of transparency and accountability, urging the EC to address these problems swiftly to maintain public confidence ahead of the December general elections.
She has questioned the Commission’s ability to ensure a smooth and fair election process, describing the shortage as indicative of deeper issues within the EC.
Mrs. Mogtari further raised doubts about the EC’s handling of election logistics, suggesting that the shortages may be symptomatic of broader systemic issues.
She also pointed to reports from printing houses, claiming that more ballots were being printed than needed.
“Even at the printing houses, we are being told they are printing more than they need. The beauty of this is that we are now very vigilant. Every step of the way, we’ve worked hard to expose the EC’s biases and incompetence.”
“This is not the first time we’ve pointed out that the Electoral Commission is not up to the task. They are not acting like an independent body. We’ve always suspected this because so many partisans are parading as commissioners. I’m happy these mistakes have been noticed, as they highlight the EC’s incompetence.”
Despite the setbacks, Bawah Mogtari assured the public that the NDC remains committed to protecting the integrity of the election.
“This is an election the NDC is supposed to win. Ghanaians are yearning for change, and we will ensure that every ballot is protected. Our polling agents have been accurately trained, and we are poised for victory,” she assured.
