Gong-gong beaters employed to spread voter registration message

Fifty-five town criers, also called gong-gong beaters, from communities across the Akatsi-North District of the Volta Region, have been mobilized to help disseminate information on the current Voter Register Exhibition process.

The exercise which started on July 18 is slated to end on August 7.

Mr. James Gunu, District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, addressing the group at the weekend at Ave-Dakpa, said despite the proliferation of the mass media and the new social media forms, the gong-gong beaters still remain useful for information relay in communities.

He said the role of town criers in the 21-day exercise cannot be underestimated, noting they could rightly be described as the “Ministers of Information” under the chieftaincy structure and are quite useful in their roles.

As emissaries of chiefs, gong-gong move from spot to spot, hit at metal pieces repeatedly to draw attention before delivering the message.

Mr. Gunu said the meeting is to sensitise the group on important issues related to the exercise to enable them pass on the message to the people.

The DCE said the inclusion of the gong-gong beaters, the second time in two years, was the beginning of repositioning them in community mobilization and development.

Mr. Edwin Ahiable, District Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), briefed the gong-gong on issues relating to the exercise to arm them with the necessary information.

Issues discussed include spelling of names, faded pictures, objection to a person’s nationality and age, ones’ voting center, transfer of votes, replacement of lost voter cards and removal of names of deceased persons.