NDC Oforikrom constituency election stalls over ballot paper delays

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

Delegates at the Oforikrom Police Station polling centre were left waiting after voting for the Women's Organiser, Deputy Women's Organiser, Youth Organiser and Deputy Youth Organiser positions was completed, with elections for other positions yet to take place.

The delay was attributed to the unavailability of ballot papers for the Deputy Secretary and Zongo Caucus positions.

According to information at the centre, the ballot papers for the two positions were still being printed, preventing the election from proceeding as planned.

Aspiring Constituency Chairman, Jackson Prah Darren, told Citi News that the candidates had agreed at a meeting three days earlier to commence voting at 8:00 a.m.

He expressed concern about the prolonged delay, saying delegates had been left waiting for several hours without adequate seating.

“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 if voting extended into the evening, the situation could raise concerns about the safety of delegates and the security of 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 resolve the impasse.