Peaceful 2020 Election: Recruit Some PWDs As Agents - Otiko Djaba Urges EC, Political Parties

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Peaceful 2020 Election: Recruit Some PWDs As Agents - Otiko Djaba Urges EC, Political Parties

The Executive Director for the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation (HDMF), Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba has suggested to the Electoral Commission (EC) to include person with disability (PWDs) in the recruitment of polling agents for polling station in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, the inclusion of PWDs would not only ensure all inclusive electoral process but would also increase the confidence of PWDs and other vulnerable persons to fully participate in the election.

Speaking at a two day’s capacity building training workshop for some women and PWDs at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of Greater Accra Region, Dr. Afisah Djaba lamented how some EC officials at the polling stations mishandled most PWDs, the aged, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups in the recent voters registration exercise due to the lack of understanding of their condition.

“Most at times people abuse, marginalize and disrespect other people because of their peculiar conditions. So if we have a person with disability among the EC officials at the polling station it will definitely be difficult for anyone to even attempt to sideline or mishandle a person with disability”.

She also challenged the PWDs and women to avail themselves to be part of the electoral processes either as polling agents or party agents in the December 7 polls.

Dr. Otiko Djaba also appealed to the EC to ensure that all over 38,000 polling stations earmarked for the election are more accessible and friendly to persons with disability, the aged and pregnant women.

The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation in partnership with the Canada Fund for Local Initiative has organized series of capacity building workshops for about 600 women and persons with disability to serve as Peace Ambassadors before, during and after the upcoming Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

The women and the PWDs are expected to also serve as peer educators, champions for peace, encourage people to go out to vote on the day of election; serve as polling agents, party agents or any other roles men or abled persons can do in the electoral processes.