The electoral commission of Ghana has urged the public to disregard some fake images circulating on social media purported to be ballots for the Ayawaso Wuogon Bye Election slated for Thursday 31st January 2019.
A press statement issued yesterday by the commission said images are accompanied by a publication to the effect that the ballots were seized from a group of men in the bushes near the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
The EC said 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 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 in casting its vote. The alleged logo displayed on the ballots in the photos being circulated is not the logo of the electoral commission.
“For the records, the process of printing ballots is meticulously policed by all the political parties in an election, and security agencies. Selected Political parties agents remain at the printing houses all through the process. 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 statement noted.
The electoral commission urges well-meaning Ghanaians to ignore the fake news and videos, which mischievous members of society will seek to flood the social media space within 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. 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.
