The National Elections Commission (NEC) says it has received ballot papers for the Nimba County Senatorial and Grand Gedeh District #1 Representative by-elections.
Speaking Monday, April 15, 2024, the NEC Chairperson Madam Davidetta Browne- Lansanah said the ballot papers arrived on Saturday, 13 April 2024 from the Republic of Ghana via the Roberts International Airport.
For Nimba County Senatorial by-lection, she said 413,050 ballots arrived while Grand Gedeh District #1 Representative ballots are 26,400.
“The ballots arrived along with other materials including the Record of the Count Forms and tactile Ballots Guide and they are currently stored under the protection of the state securities,” she said.
The NEC Boss disclosed that packaging of materials is on course and nearing completion.
Madam Lansanah said deployment of ballot papers and other sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to Nimba County and Grand Gedeh District #1 commenced on Monday, April 15, 2024 while cascade training for temporary staff for the By-elections is ongoing.
Meanwhile, she announced that political campaign for the by-elections commenced on 4 April 2024.
According to NEC Chairperson, political campaign will end on 20 April 2024 at mid-night.
The Commission reminds all candidates to continue to conduct their campaigns peacefully and follow the campaign guidelines.
“The Commission informs all stakeholders that all accreditation tags for party agents will be issued at the Commission’s offices in Nimba and Grand Gedeh beginning Wednesday, 17 April 2024. Additionally, all observer institutions including the media wishing to observe these by-elections have up to Thursday, 18 April 2024 to request for accreditation,” she said.
Madam Lansanah indicated that NEC launched the civic and voter education (CVE) activities for the by-elections in both counties on March 22, 2024.
She said the Commission is organizing the polls for 307,254 registered voters at 262 precincts, comprising 736 polling places. Also it requires 3,846 polling staff to man the polls in Nimba.
For District #1, Grand Gedeh County, there are 20,407 registered voters and 11 precincts comprising 46 polling places, which require 243 polling staff.
In both Nimba and Grand Gedeh, the staff will be deployed immediately following their training.
She disclosed that four senatorial candidates are competing in Nimba, all of whom are males, while Grand Gedeh District #1 has fifteen candidates (12 males and 3 females).