Supreme Sign Institute, a sign language school, has held a workshop for social welfare workers and interpreters in the Eastern and Volta Regions to educate them on the electoral processes.
The two-day event, held in Accra, was to also enable them to communicate effectively with the hearing impaired to know how to assist them in the 2016 Election processes.
Mr Newell Agbe, the Executive Director of the Institute, said for free and fair elections to be assured, all stakeholders, including the hearing impaired, needed to be well informed to be able to participate in the process efficiently.
This workshop, he said, would, therefore, help build the participants’ capacity towards educating their community and districts on the processes towards a free, fair and peaceful election.
The workshop also took the participants through the Code of Ethics for interpreters.
Mr Agbe said, according to the last Population Census, the total number of hearing impaired in the country was 110,625.
However, he said, not of all them were receiving information about the electoral process, hence the engagement of the interpreters.
This would ensure inclusive governance in accordance with the Persons With Disability Act 715 of 2006, he stated.
Mr Yussif Alhassan Ayuba, the Assistant Head of Communication and Public Relations, Electoral Commission, took the participants through the various processes of voting.
He said signing to persons on the electoral processes was not an easy task and urged the participants to master their skills to enable them to discharge their duties efficiently on the Election Day.
Mr Ayuba said the Electoral Commission (EC) believed in a credible and transparent Election so it would do everything in its power to achieve that by enhancing the management of the general election.
It was, therefore, prudent, he said, for citizens to safeguard the future of the country and to be guarded against negative manipulations.
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