2024 Elections: EC replaces ballot paper printing firm over faulty equipment

The Electoral Commission has announced that Yasarko Press, the printing firm initially contracted to print ballot papers for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, will no longer handle this task.

Instead, Buck Press and Acts Commercials have been assigned to carry out the printing.

In a statement released on Sunday, October 27, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, the Commission explained that the decision followed a notification from Yasarko Press management regarding a critical fault in one of their printing machines.

“In the course of the week, the management of Yasarko Press indicated to the Commission that one of their critical pieces of equipment for printing ballot papers had developed a fault.

"It was therefore agreed by both institutions that Yasarko should opt out of the printing of the 2024 ballots,” the statement read.

The Commission also refuted claims by the National Democratic Congress’ Director of Elections and Information Technology, Edward Omane Boamah, who said they (EC), had engaged a firm lacking the necessary capacity.

“Consequently, the speculation by the NDC's Director of Elections and Information Technology that the Electoral Commission engaged a printing house with questionable capacity is NOT TRUE,” the statement added.

In response to the situation, the Electoral Commission swiftly reassigned the printing tasks to Buck Press and Acts Commercials, both of which have proven expertise in this area.

The Commission also assured that this change would not affect the printing schedule for the ballot papers.

All political parties and independent candidates participating in the 2024 General Election have been informed of this update.

ID/EB

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