Youth Bridge Foundation empowers first-time voters

Ghana’s youthful population is a defining feature of its demographic landscape.

Approximately 57% of the population is under the age of 25, with young people constituting close to 62% of the voting population.

In the 2020 general elections, of the 17 million registered voters, around 9.4 million were aged between 18 and 35, including over 2.6 million first-time voters.

However, first-time voters often face challenges stemming from a lack of understanding of the voting process, which can lead to mistakes at the polls.

While there is no comprehensive data linking rejected ballots to this demographic, many experts believe first-time voters are disproportionately responsible for invalid votes.

Addressing this issue is crucial, as casting one’s first ballot is a significant civic milestone.

To bridge this gap, the Youth Bridge Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has launched a pioneering initiative under its “Empowering Youth to Elevate Accountability” project sponsored by the Star Ghana Foundation and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The project focuses on equipping first-time voters with the knowledge and tools they need to participate effectively in elections.

Dr Alexander Nimo Wiredu, the project’s expert consultant said: “We realised that rejected votes are high.

That’s why we are building the capacity of first-time voters, since it’s their first time, they are prone to errors.

This training empowers them with the tools to make informed decisions.”

The workshops, which have already taken place in Tamale (Northern Region) and Kumasi (Ashanti Region), are set to expand to other regions.

As part of the training, first-time voters engage in voting simulation exercises conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC).

These exercises cover voting procedures, electoral offences, and guidance on what to do in case of errors during the voting process.

“This is the first time we’ve been invited to train first-time voters.

From my interactions during the training, I realised many of them were unfamiliar with aspects of the electoral process.

This initiative has exposed them to vital information,” said Mr Francis Osei Nsiah, Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission.

As Ghana approaches the December 7 elections, the EC reports that 708,280 first-time voters have been registered, out of a total of 18,772,251 valid voters.

Of these, 9,689,987 are female and 9,082,264 are male.

The Youth Bridge Foundation’s efforts underscore the importance of empowering young people to participate meaningfully in Ghana’s democratic process.

With young voters forming a significant proportion of the electorate, their informed participation will play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the elections.

It is imperative for stakeholders to prioritise initiatives that promote youth inclusion in electoral processes, fostering a more informed and engaged populace.