As Ghana prepares for a crucial national election in
December 2024, the need for initiatives that bolster democratic processes and
empower citizens with comprehensive information to make informed choices has
never been more pronounced.
In response to this critical need, Penplusbytes, through its
esteemed African Elections Project,
is launching the Ghana Elections 2024 Voters’ Compass Project in collaboration
with VoteSwiper e.V., a German-based organization. Supported with the German
Federal Foreign Office’s funds by ifa (Institut für
Auslandsbeziehungen), zivik Funding Programme, this innovative project aims
to equip Ghanaian voters with the tools and knowledge necessary to actively
participate in the electoral process and contribute to credible, transparent
elections 2024.
At the core of the Voters’ Compass project lies a
user-friendly, dynamic online platform designed to empower citizens with a
deeper understanding of political party manifestos and issues at stake. Mr.
Jerry Sam, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, emphasized the significance of
this initiative, stating, “the deployment of this educative Voters’
Compass, will offer electorates an opportunity to dive deep into political
party manifestos. The idea is to get electorates to focus on issues rather than
personalities, which often leads to electoral disinformation that has the
potential of bringing about violence and diluting electoral information.”
Distinguished by its unique features and approach, the
Voters’ Compass offers a Tinder-style interface integrated with the VoteSwiper
tool (www.voteswiper.org) , enabling
users to respond to political questions with a simple swipe ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. This
functionality facilitates the alignment of individual ideologies and
aspirations with party promises, enabling voters to make well-informed
decisions and hold elected officials accountable during the post-election era.
Matthias Bannert, Chairman of the Board VoteSwiper, noted “we
are delighted to join forces with Penplusbytes to empower Ghanaian voters
through the use of our VoteSwiper tool, to navigate the electoral landscape and
make informed decisions that align with Ghanaian values and aspirations. Having
successfully deployed VoteSwiper in national and local elections across various
European nations, this marks our first venture on the African continent.”
Moreover, the Voters’ Compass stands out as a reliable
source of information, mitigating the spread of fake news and disinformation by
providing comprehensive insights into political party programs, candidate
profiles, election procedures, and key issues. Through interactive elements
such as chatbots, WhatsApp API, and social media integration, the platform
fosters engagement and inclusivity, ensuring accessibility to a diverse range
of citizens with content available in both English and up to four local languages.
Penplusbytes’ commitment to enhancing democracy extends beyond Ghana, with the organization’s extensive election coverage spanning over 17 African countries, including Liberia, Niger, and Kenya. Leveraging the innovative capabilities of the Voters’ Compass project, Penplusbytes is dedicated to advancing Ghana’s democratic landscape, promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the 2024 national electoral process.
Follow the 2024 Ghanaian Election on Twitter @Ghanaelections and
Facebook @Ghana Post-Elections.
https://penplusbytes.org/
Take Voters' Compass