Mpraeso, Sept. 20, GNA - The Kwahu South District Electoral Officer, Mr Appiah Agyemang, on Monday claimed to have burnt the entire ballot papers in the 600 ballot boxes used in the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the Nkawkaw, Mpraeso and Abetifi constituencies six months ago. According to him, he burnt the papers to prevent further raids on the room where the boxes were being kept after an earlier raid resulting in the loss of some electoral materials.

He made the claim to the Mpraeso constituency NDC executives, who called on him at Mpraeso to find out the date to implement the order by an Accra Fast-Track High Court that the ballot papers should be transferred from the ballot boxes into lockable bags temporarily, under the supervision of representatives of political parties and security agencies in the districts.

The ruling was to enable the Electoral Commission(EC) to use the ballot boxes to conduct the forthcoming District Assembly and Unit Committee elections.

Mr. Agyemang told the constituency executive, led by its chairman, Mr Attah Obeng that he had to burn the ballot papers since he could not get adequate rooms to keep the ballot boxes which, he said, had attracted thieves to break into the room where he kept them and made away with some metal ballot boxes, election ropes, laminates and some election bags which was reported to the police.

Mr Obeng, who informed the Regional Executive of the party brought in the party's Regional Organizer, Mr Tawiah Boateng, to ascertain the truth.

Mr Boateng took media personnel to the District Electoral Officer who confirmed the claim, saying he did it before the Fast Track Court ruling.

Mr Boateng said the action of the Electoral Officer showed that the EC assisted the NPP party to rig the 2004 general elections and therefore called on the chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan, to explain the reason for the destruction of some ballot papers in the 2004 presidential elections.

He appealed to the Fast Track High Court to order an immediate counting of the rest of the ballot papers for the 2004 presidential election to declare the winner of the election. Mr Boateng also called for Electoral Officials who have destroyed similar ballot papers to be charged with contempt of court and be prosecuted accordingly.