Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana’s Upper East Region have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure an accessible and inclusive electoral process for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. They emphasized that elections are a crucial opportunity for every Ghanaian to participate in decision-making, urging stakeholders to prevent the exclusion of PWDs from the electoral process.
Mr. Mark Akubire, President of the Federation of Disability in the Upper East Region, made this appeal during a forum in Bolgatanga organized by Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana) in partnership with STAR-Ghana Foundation. The event was part of a project titled “Democracy 360: Sustaining Inclusive Civic Engagement to Track Party Manifestoes Beyond Elections in Ghana,” funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.
The project aims to promote ongoing accountability and access to quality social services for underrepresented groups such as PWDs, women, youth, and ethnic minorities through civic engagement and advocacy. It is being implemented in Bolgatanga Municipality, Nabdam, and Bongo Districts and includes efforts to increase political activism in Zongo communities and empower marginalized groups to exercise their civic rights.
Mr. Akubire highlighted the challenges PWDs face during elections, including inaccessible polling locations and the need for disability-friendly facilities. He recommended that the EC consider special accommodations, such as allowing PWDs to bypass long queues on Election Day. Additionally, he proposed the use of tactile voting jackets to enable visually impaired individuals to vote independently.
Mr. William Obeng Adarkwa, Upper East Regional Director of the EC, reassured participants, including PWDs, youth groups, first-time voters, and the Fulbe (Fulani) community, that the Commission is committed to an inclusive electoral process. He emphasized that special provisions would be made to support vulnerable groups and urged participants to follow electoral rules for a fair and transparent election.
Madam Jaw-haratu Amadu, Head of Programmes at RISE-Ghana, noted that the project’s primary goal is to ensure Ghana’s elections are inclusive and that leaders remain accountable to the electorate to promote sustainable development. She added that the initiative seeks not only to educate participants on electoral procedures but also to provide them with insights into political party manifestoes, empowering them to hold leaders accountable beyond the election period.
