The Electoral Commission (EC) together with the Ghana Blind Union (GBU) have sensitized visually impaired persons on their voting processes ahead of the December 7 general elections.
The exercise held for a day at the capitals of the six districts namely Goaso (Asunafo North), Kukuom (Asunafo South), Hwidiem (Asutifi South), Kenyasi(Asutifi North), Tano South(Bechem) and Duayaw Nkwanta (Tano North) was to give them adequate knowledge on the use of tactile ballots to cast their votes with an ease.
In an interview with the Asutifi South Electoral Commission Director, Mr. Gideon Yeboah, the beneficiaries have went through all the needed steps kind courtesy experts from the EC and Ghana Blind Union(GBU) to position them well to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.
Elsewhere in Asutifi North District, the EC Director, Mrs. Franklina Osei Asibey expressed gratitude to the facilitators for practically explaining the voting processes via the tactile ballots to the understanding of those who took part in the training.
” Per the demonstrations exhibited by the beneficiaries in accordance with their facilitator’s instructions clearly indicate that they will cast their votes without any challenges “.
Mrs. Franklina Osei Asibey stated that with this training, the EC believes there will be an improvement with regards to the casting of votes by visually impaired persons nation wide.
The President of Ghana Blind Union for Asutifi North District, Elder Kofi Sekyere who doubles as a Facilitator, advised beneficiaries to keep on rehearsing the processes in the homes and at their various meeting sessions to keep them (processes) on their figure tips for their own good.
He urged them to adhere to code of ethics explained to them by the EC and Facilitators to prevent them from encountering any form of challenge on the election’s day.
Some of the visually impaired persons (beneficiaries) thanked the Government, EC and Ghana Blind Union for the training which is of great importance to them ahead of the elections. According to them, their knowledge have been improved concerning how they vote due to the how facilitators handled them.
They revealed that on December 7 (Monday), visiting their polling stations to cast their votes will be their priority because they are now more familiar with the processes.
The beneficiaries therefore made a passionate appeal to politicians and the youth to desist from putting up any action before, during and after the elections that will result in violence because they will be affected most in case it happened.
” We don’t have sight to run to safe areas in the midst of violence so politicians and the youth stay away ” they pleaded.
By Sammy Asare, Ahafo Region
