The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) in partnership with Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and United Civil Society Organisations for National Development (UCSOND) with support from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and Hewlett Foundation through its Local Accountability Network (LANet) in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region has sensitized some first- time voters as they look forward to exercise their franchise in December.
The events which were dubbed “The Youth Voice: Activating First-Time Voters for Ghana’s 2024 General Elections”, were held at the Kwame Nkrumah Senior High School (formerly Nsein Senior High School) on 21st November 2024 and the Church of Pentecost- Axim Central on 24th November 2024.
Ghana’s democratic progress depends on active citizen participation, especially among first-time voters, who are often vulnerable to misinformation, therefore engagements sought to empower First-Time voters with the requisite knowledge and tools on Electoral Integrity, aimed at promoting free, fair, and transparent elections.
At the event, the Secretary to the Municipal LANet, Mr. Nicholas Mensah explained in plenary, the meaning of Electoral Integrity and also Demonstrated the proper way to vote without invalidating the ballot paper.
He cautioned the audience made up of first-time voters and participants who had voted before, to eschew any form of electoral misconduct that could land them into trouble such as vote buying and selling, underage voting electoral fraud, and many more.
He warned that citizens must resist any attempt by politicians to entice their decisions with money, gifts, or any other substance. He indicated that citizens must take a bold stand, show patriotism, stay informed, support electoral integrity, and report any form of electoral corruption.
He also reminded them that violence threatened the peace we had enjoyed in the last thirty years and our remarkable achievements as one of the few African countries that had upheld democracy in the last three decades.
The engaged participants of both sessions expressed their excitement and readiness to participate in this year’s election and thanked LANet for the engagement.
This initiative continues to engage young voters across the country, to ensure and accomplish free, fair, transparent and inclusive electoral processes in the 2024 General Elections, ultimately fostering and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
Source: Nzema FM, Axim
By: Ebenezer Atta Kakra Aidoo
About Post Author
