EC Trains Visually Impaired on Tactile Jackets for Upcoming Elections.

Lower Manya Krobo: The Electoral Commission (EC) has taken a significant step towards inclusivity in the voting process by organizing a voter education workshop tailored for persons with disabilities, particularly focusing on the visually impaired. This initiative aims to familiarize them with the use of tactile jackets in the forthcoming December elections.According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop was conducted at the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly Hall in the Eastern Region and attracted approximately 25 visually impaired participants. The EC provided tactile jackets as a means to facilitate a seamless voting experience for those with visual impairments, ensuring they can cast their votes with ease and independence.Mr. Jonathan Okine, the Lower Manya Municipal Director of the EC, explained that the training was particularly focused on preparing first-time voters in the area, empowering them to vote confidently and independently on December 7. He emphasized that the tactile jackets would assist visually impaired voters in identifying and selecting their preferred candidates effortlessly, thus ensuring a trouble-free voting experience.During the workshop, Mr. Okine also highlighted activities that contravene electoral laws, such as obstructing an electoral officer, voting under someone else's identity, defacing political party posters or notices, and wearing political party clothing at polling stations. 'All of this are against the Commission's laws, and in order to ensure a smooth procedure, it is crucial that you abide by them,' he stated.The workshop included a practical demonstration of how to use the tactile jackets, followed by a hands-on voting exercise where participants were guided by EC officials in casting their ballots. This hands-on experience was designed to boost the confidence of visually impaired voters ahead of the elections.Ms. Eunice Korleykuor, the Eastern Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Blind Union, expressed appreciation for the introduction and adoption of the tactile jacket, noting its role in alleviating the challenges faced by blind voters. She highlighted past instances where aides, entrusted to assist visually impaired voters, misused this trust by steering them towards specific candidates, thus underscoring the importance of tactile jackets for independent voting. 'I've heard that when aides of the visually impaired go to vote, they inform them to vote this or that and when they get home, they now tell them the truth, a situation that has plagued us for years, which is why we advocated for the use of tactile jackets during elections to allow us to vote independently,' she remarked.