The Hohoe Chapter of the Ghana Blind Union (GBU) has organised a training on the use of tactile; a voting device that enables visually impaired persons to mark a ballot paper in secret.

The training, ahead of the Election 2024, was to empower the members to independently vote on election day.

Mr Augustine Yaw Asangba, the President of the Union, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, appealed to all, especially the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, to ensure that adequate security was provided for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as well as members of the GBU nationwide.

Mr Asangba said the Union continued to appeal to benevolent organisations and individuals for white canes as they launched “Operation buy one white cane for the visually impaired”.

Madam Epiphania Sefakor Dumenu, the Acting Hohoe Municipal Director, Social Welfare Department, expressed gratitude to the Electoral Commission (EC) for the training.

She said the training had given members of the Union hope and encouragement to feel belonged in exercising their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution, despite their predicament.

Madam Dumenu said the Department was always ready to assist the Union, especially in the upcoming general elections.

Mr Enoch Danso Agyekum, the Hohoe Municipal Electoral Officer, said the training would promote inclusivity, and fairness and uphold Ghana’s democratic principles while empowering PWDs to vote independently thereby preserving their rights to secrecy and autonomy.

Five members of the Union received white canes through benevolent donations.