The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has organized a training workshop for visually impaired individuals in the New Juaben South Constituency of the Eastern Region.
The initiative is part of efforts to promote inclusivity in the upcoming December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The workshop focused on the use of tactile jackets, specialized voting equipment designed to assist visually impaired voters in casting their ballots independently.
Participants were trained to identify the numbered positions of candidates representing various political parties on the ballot paper for both presidential and parliamentary polls.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, approximately 1% of Ghana’s population is visually impaired, hence the importance of such inclusive initiatives.
Speaking during the training, Gifty Nyamekye Manteaw, the Acting Municipal Electoral Officer for New Juaben South, emphasized the EC’s commitment to ensuring that visually impaired voters can participate without assistance.
“We trained visually impaired persons to use the tactile jacket with minimal or no help. This training will enhance inclusivity in this year’s election. Many visually impaired persons have previously abstained from voting due to challenges, but with this training, they can confidently cast their ballots,” she said.
She also assured the visually impaired participants of special provisions on election day to facilitate their voting experience.
“They will not join the regular queues at polling stations. Once their name and fingerprint are verified, the ballot issuer will assist them with the tactile jacket to vote.”
The Eastern Regional Women’s Wing Coordinator of the Ghana Blind Union (GBU), Sarah Asiedu, commended the EC for its commitment to inclusivity.
She noted that the training on tactile voting mechanisms would empower visually impaired voters and ensure their active participation in the democratic process.
Participants expressed their readiness to vote in this year’s elections, citing the EC’s training and assurances of special treatment as key motivators.
“We now feel confident to vote, knowing that we can do so independently with the tactile jacket,” one participant stated.
The EC’s initiative is expected to boost voter turnout among visually impaired individuals while reinforcing Ghana’s democratic principles of inclusion and accessibility.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
