Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations working in the Upper East Region have collaborated to ensure that the recorded numbers of rejected votes are reduced significantly in this year’s elections.
The NGOs and CSOs shall educate citizenry on voting procedure.
Ghana’s elections have records high numbers of rejected ballot papers at polling stations, a situation if not checked could mare the beauty of Ghana’s elections.
At a one day stakeholder meeting organized by TEERE, a Non-Governmental Organization operating in the upper east region, Chief Executive Officer of the TEERE Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh said the collaboration will help reduce the high rate of rejected votes recorded in Bongo and Bolgatanga constituencies. According to him, the collaboration also aims at educating the public on the importance of the upcoming elections in order to increase the voter turnout.
Dr. Avea who expressed worry over the high rate of rejected ballot papers often recorded at polling stations charged the NGOs and CSOs to play a responsible role towards a successful election.
“Within the election framework as CSOs, we should try as much as possible and try to get people to come out and vote and vote well” Dr. Avea urged.
TEERE which means ‘change’ is implementing the project with funding from STAR Ghana and DFID and would spearhead a campaign to foster unity among Ghanaians before, during and after the general elections. The NGOs and CSOs shall engage citizens in local governance to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Coordinator for the Complementary Basic Education program of Afrikids, Richard Amoah in an interview said the collaboration will go a long way to maximize the little resources each NGO or CSO would have spent in carrying out its activities in the communities.
“For us at Afrikids it is going to be a very strong thing. It will give us a common platform as NGOs working in our respective sectors to be able to push some policies and some action plans through the RCC and for that matter the central government to appreciate some of the things that are happening in our country” Mr. Amoah stated.
By: Joshua Asaah | A1RADIOONLINE.com | Ghana
