Printing of ballot papers delays NDC constituency elections at Oforikrom

Voting in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency elections at Oforikrom in the Ashanti Region has been disrupted by delays in printing ballot papers for some positions.

Delegates at the Oforikrom Police Station voting centre were left waiting after polls for the Women’s Organiser, Deputy Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser and Deputy Youth Organiser positions had been completed, while voting for other positions had yet to take place.

Accra-based Citi News reported that ballot papers for the Deputy Secretary and Zongo Caucus positions were still being printed, holding up the remaining elections.

Aspiring constituency chairman Jackson Prah Darren told Citi News that aspirants had agreed at a meeting three days earlier that voting would begin at 8:00 a.m.

He said the delay had kept delegates at the centre for hours, with inadequate seating adding to their discomfort and raising concerns about fatigue as the process continued.

“We are stuck here. People are waiting all over. Fatigue is also setting in because there are no chairs. We are saying that if this will continue like the last four years, then we have to postpone the election to a time when all the materials will be ready,” he said.

Mr Prah Darren further cautioned that allowing voting to continue into the evening could pose security risks for delegates and ballot papers.

The Ashanti Regional Minister and NDC Regional Secretary, Dr Frank Amoakohene, later arrived at the centre alongside the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Andrew Augustus Nana Akwasi, and other regional officers to help address the situation.