The programme that attracted around 25 visually impaired participants was held at the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly Hall in the Eastern Region,

The EC had provided tactile jackets as voting aids to ensure that visually impaired voters could cast their ballots smoothly and without stress.

Mr. Jonathan Okine, the Lower Manya Municipal Director of the EC told the Ghana News Agency that
the training aimed to prepare first-time voters in the area, enabling them to vote independently and confidently on December 7.

He explained that with the support of the tactile jackets, visually impaired voters would be equipped to identify and select their preferred candidates with ease, ensuring a trouble-free voting experience.

The EC director took participants through activities that were against electoral laws such as obstructing an electoral officer, voting in someone else's name, defacing political party posters or notices, wearing political party clothing while at the polling station, among others.

"All of this are against the Commission's laws, and in order to ensure a smooth procedure, it is crucial that you abide by them," he said.

After demonstrating how to use the tactile jacket, members participated in a hands-on voting procedure where they were guided by EC officials in casting their ballots.

Ms. Eunice Korleykuor, the Eastern Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Blind Union, stated that the introduction and adoption of the tactile jacket had helped to alleviate difficulties blind people face during voting.

She pointed out that some individuals in positions of trust, who were responsible for assisting people with visual impairments, have misused this trust by intentionally deceiving them into voting for candidates they support, rather than allowing them to make their own choices.

"I've heard that when aides of the visually impaired go to vote, they inform them to vote this or that and when they get home, they now tell them the truth, a situation that has plagued us for years, which is why we advocated for the use of tactile jackets during elections to allow us to vote independently," she said.