THE Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) has released an initial tranche of GH¢5 million to the Electoral Commission (EC) for the printing of ballot papers and other expenses for the December 28 presidential run-off.
The Director of Budget at MOFEP, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Mensah, who made this known, said the EC’s proposal for the run-off was submitted last week with the request for the immediate release of part of the amount for the acquisition of indelible ink, the printing of ballot papers and other operational costs.
In all, about GH¢11.5 million had been set aside for the exercise.
The second tranche of about GH¢6.5 million would be used for the payment of allowances of election staff during the run-off, and that was also ready and would be released when the EC was set, Mr Adjei-Mensah added.
The Director of Finance at the EC, Mr Isaac Kwame Boateng, when contacted, confirmed the release and said the EC was in the process of clearing the money for use.
Meanwhile, contract has been awarded for the supply of logistics that would be needed by the EC for the exercise.
Mr Boateng said despite the fact that the time was short, arrangements had been made with suppliers to fast-track the supply of materials.
The challenge, however, was the fact that the December 28 re-run was at a time of congestion due to backlog of air and port freight, resulting in high costs.
He gave the assurance that the EC could always have the resources it needed for a successful election.
17/12/08
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008, PG I
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