The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has commenced a voter education campaign to empower first-time voters aged between 18 and 21 to make informed electoral decisions.
It is part of the project, ‘Youth Voice: Activating First-Time Voters for Ghana’s 2024 General Elections,’ implemented by GACC in collaboration with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), with funding from the United States Embassy in Ghana.
The partnership aims to empower first-time voters with a deeper understanding of the voting process and the importance of electoral integrity.
Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of GACC, speaking at separate events at St. Augustine’s College and OLA College of Education at Cape Coast, said the project would contribute to the country’s democratic gains.
Mrs Narteh stated that, ‘For an election to be successful and democratic, first-time voters must understand their rights and responsibilities and must be sufficiently knowledgeable and well informed to cast ballot that are valid and to pa
rticipate meaningfully in the voting process.’
‘Voter and civic education are even more critical in post-conflict countries, where political situations may be volatile and where elections may have an unprecedented impact on the countries’ future.’
‘As first-time voters, you hold the power to shape the direction of our country. I encourage you to cast your first vote with integrity and stand firm against any forms of corruption or inducement,’ she said.
Mrs Narteh reminded the students that voting was a vital part of the democratic process and that every vote had the potential to bring about change.
Mr. Richard Asenso, Electoral Commission Officer from the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, took them through the steps; including visiting one’s polling station with a voter identification card, joining the queue, waiting for his or her turn to cast the vote and return home.
He said the EC had a polling assistant who would guide them through the processes and urged them to ask questions should the need arise.
Mr Asenso advised them not to engage in multiple voting, avoid undue influence, bribe and impersonation, explaining that there were consequences for such actions.
Ms. Marsita Ferguson, the Director of the David and Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement at Baldwin Wallace University, stated that voter education was crucial as it was a means of providing citizens, especially first-time voters with basic information about participating in elections.
‘Elections are the cornerstone of any democracy. It is essential that you, as first-time voters, uphold the highest standards of electoral integrity by voting responsibly and ensuring the fairness of the process,’ she noted.
Source: Ghana News Agency