As Ghana approaches the 2024 national elections, political parties have rolled out their manifestos, presenting their promises and visions for the future. However, many voters particularly the youth feel disconnected from these pledges, uncertain about the feasibility of these promises and the political will behind them. This lack of trust is further compounded by the absence of systematic tracking and follow-through on manifesto commitments, leaving gaps in accountability and governance.
To address these concerns, Penplusbytes is set to launch the Voters’ Compass (voterscompass.africanelections.org) an innovative digital platform aimed at helping voters critically evaluate political party manifestos. By focusing on key policy areas that matter to the electorate, the platform allows users to compare party positions on significant issues, fostering more informed participation in the electoral process and contributing to the deepening of democracy in Ghana.
In support of this initiative, Penplusbytes is also hosting the 1st in the series, Voters’ Compass Policy Dialogue, a forum designed to promote open, constructive discussions between political leaders, civil society, and the voting public. It is slated for Wednesday 23rd October 2024 at 9am at the UPSA Campus in Accra. The dialogue aims to enhance public understanding of political manifestos and strengthen accountability mechanisms through continuous dialogue between political leaders and civil society.
Highlighting the importance of the dialogue, Mr. Jerry Sam, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, stated, “the Voters’ Compass Policy Dialogue would provide a unique opportunity for Ghanaians to engage directly with political parties on their manifestos. It is more than just a digital tool – it is a platform built for citizens, especially the youth, to understand where each political party stands in terms of their policies and programs. With a platform like the Voters’ Compass, voters can make informed decisions, ensuring that manifestos are transformed into actionable commitments rather than empty promises.”
To ensure that conversations of such nature reach as many citizens as possible, similar dialogues will be held in the Ashanti and Northern regions of Ghana in the next weeks and all these will be streamed on the Ghana Elections social media platforms (@ghanaelections). Register via https://forms.gle/kyEmdyvVZb32fsGP6 to save your seat at the first policy dialogue in Accra.
About
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in the following key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, climate and well-being, and enhancing oversight for effective utilization of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.
The Voters’ Compass project is in partnership with VoteSwiper and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), zivik Funding Programme.