Report from Ho, Volta region.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), VOICE GHANA joined thousands of persons with disabilities in Ghana to mark the event. The main theme for this year’s event globally is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.

As Ghanaians will go to the polls on 7 December 2012 to elect a President and Members of Parliament (MPs), the theme for this occasion was culled from the global theme: “Inclusive Election, devoid of Violence”.

Ghana Decides was represented by Nehemiah Attigah and Gameli Adzaho at the event to launch Al Jazeera voices and the GhanaDecides’ get out the vote campaign, “Our Vote, Our Voice”.

The event started with a peace march through the streets of Agortime Kpetoe by persons with disability and secondary school children from Agortime Kpetoe, Ziope and Agortime Afegame in the Ho East Constituency of the Volta Region. After an hour of walking, the group assembled at the old town assembly ground where participants attentively received  peace messages from NDC, NPP, PPP, NDP, the Electoral Commission and social welfare representatives.

Speaking on the Our Vote Our Voice campaign, Nehemiah Attigah urged every registered voter to go out and vote on the 7 December, 2012 and touched on the Al Jazeera voices.

Gameli performed the launch of Al Jazeera voices in Ewe. He took the participants through the steps of calling the IVR system, but were unable to submit reports due to two constraints. The IVR system is solely in English and the second being the poor network coverage (toll free number is airtel) in the area.

Ghana Decides met with the leaders of the youth organization, Centre for Creative Youth (CCY) in Ho. Ghana Decides introduced  Al Jazeera voices and the “Our Vote, Our Voice” Campaign.

Three people submitted reports to the IVR system as demonstration. They were encouraged to spread the word and get members of the group and the public to make submissions to Al Jazeera voices via +233260000420.