Election 2024: Do not wear party colours to polling centres – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned electorates against engaging in any form of political activity at the polling station as that constitute a constitutional breach and is punishable by law.

“Be vigilant and do not engage in any political activity or action that can disrupt the election. Do not wear your party colours at the polling stations,” the Commission said.

Daniel Kwatia Larbi, the Deputy Upper West Regional Director of the EC, gave the warning in Wa during an election education for some girls and young women, some of whom were first-time voters.

The Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD) Ghana organised the forum in partnership with Plan International Ghana as part of the She Leads project implementation.

The forum was on the theme: “Voters Participation: Involving Girls and Young Women in Democratic Process”, and aimed to among other things, educate the people on acceptable electoral practices and how to cast a valid vote.

Mr Larbi took the participants through the voting process and the procedures to follow at the polling station before, during and after casting their votes.

He reiterated the commitment of the EC to ensuring transparency throughout the electoral process by engaging all necessary stakeholders including political parties in every major decision it took.

Joyce Obenewaa Darko, the Acting She Leads Project Manager at Plan International Ghana, observed that active participation in the electoral process was an unalienable right of every Ghanaian citizen and in line with the project objective.

The She Leads project aimed to “increase the sustained influence of Girls and Young Women (GYW) on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.”

She said the electoral education was necessary because “Casting a valid vote is the only way, as young people, you can participate in the democratic process.”

Darko encouraged participants to trickle down the knowledge they had acquired from the forum to other young people, especially first-time voters, to enable them to exercise their fundamental human rights by participating in the 2024 general election.

Ernestina Biney, the Acting Executive Director of CARD-Ghana, said the She Leads project had impacted the lives of the beneficiaries since its inception about four years ago.

She said the training would equip the participants with the necessary information to enable them to exercise their civic rights and responsibility by participating in the election.

Victor Elikplim Nuworkpor, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), educated the participants on their fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in the national laws.

He indicated that Ghana’s 1992 constitution recognises and offers women special rights that protect them from discrimination and exploitation including in electoral processes.

Vida Addi, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), urged the young people to use the power of their voices, choices, and actions to shape the future of the country.