A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Kwaku Owusu Banahene, has raised concerns over the actions of some security personnel during the special voting exercise held on December 2, 2024.
Speaking on the Angel Morning Show (AMS) on December 3, 2024, Banahene criticized security personnel who allegedly took photographs of their ballots, describing their actions as both unlawful and hypocritical.
He expressed his gratitude to members of the security services and the media who participated in the special voting but condemned the practice of taking photos of completed ballots.
According to Banahene, the same security personnel who are expected to enforce the law against such practices were the ones engaging in it during the voting exercise.
“Security personnel taking photos of their votes lack the moral right to arrest citizens for doing the same,” he said during the discussion.
Banahene alleged that some security personnel took pictures of their thumb-printed ballots, which included visible serial numbers, and shared them on social media. He claimed that these photos were being circulated to demonstrate that the security services had voted for specific political parties.
He emphasized that this act violates electoral laws, which prohibit voters from displaying their marked ballots after voting.
“The law clearly bans anyone from showing their ballot after voting. Whoever does so has violated the law,” Banahene stated.
He further questioned the integrity of security personnel who engaged in this behavior, asking how they could enforce the law and arrest citizens for similar actions during the general elections on December 7.
“How will these same security personnel arrest citizens who show their ballots if they themselves are doing the exact same thing?” he queried.
Banahene also alleged that some individuals were engaging in vote-buying during the special voting exercise. He claimed that certain voters were offered cash in exchange for taking photos of their ballots as proof of their vote.
“These actions undermine the integrity of our elections. People are being paid after voting and showing proof through photos. This is unacceptable,” he added.
Banahene called on the Electoral Commission and relevant authorities to investigate these incidents and take steps to prevent such practices during the main election.
