EC Empowers Persons with Disabilities in Central Tongu with Voting Training.

Central Tongu: The Electoral Commission (EC) has organised a training session for Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region. The training aimed to empower the PWDs to participate fully in the upcoming December 7 elections, focusing on electoral processes and the use of tactile jackets to facilitate independent voting.According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Comfort Amoah, District Director of the Electoral Commission, emphasised the importance of independent voting rights for PWDs. She noted that, in the past, PWDs have been assisted by relatives or friends, who sometimes influence their voting decisions. To address this issue, the EC has trained ballot issuers to assist PWDs during the voting process. Madam Amoah encouraged PWDs to also seek assistance from Presiding Officers whenever needed.The training also covered essential voting guidelines, such as not voting for more than one person on the same ballot paper, not writing on the ballot paper with ink, and not bring ing unauthorized materials to the polling station. Madam Amoah reminded PWDs that they are exempt from queuing on election day, per the Constitutional Instrument 91 and 127 that prioritizes their needs along with those of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the aged.The EC Director reassured PWDs that "your names are in the voter register, and you would not be denied the right to vote even if you have misplaced their voter ID cards, you all can still vote by providing your correct names as stated on your voter ID cards." A student with visual impairment, Miss Sitsofe Amekor, praised the EC for the training, saying it will enable her to vote independently using the tactile jacket. She also pledged to promote peaceful elections among the PWDs in the district.