‘We were excited to vote’
First-time voters have expressed their excitement for the opportunity they had to vote in this year’s general election.
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The first timers, who included senior high school students, said by exercising their franchise, they felt a part of the decision-making process to elect the President and the 275 Members of Parliament of the country.
Speaking in separate interviews with the Junior Graphic on Election Day, the voters were all confident of making an impact in the electoral process.
“I have been standing in the queue for one-and-half hours now. All I want to do is to vote,” a smiling Mavis Baiden, 21, told the Junior Graphic at the Methodist Church Polling Station at Obrachire in the Central Region.
Master Enoch Appiah, 18, of the Aberful D/A Junior High School said he had long waited for the opportunity to vote for his future.
“It’s my wish to experience this process, and I am happy that I have cast my ballot,” Master Appiah, who showed his voter’s identification card to the Junior Graphic reporter, said.
Asked whether his choice of candidate was not influenced by his parents or friends, he replied in the negative, adding that “the decision I took to vote for a particular candidate was my own.”
Miss Alberta Danquah, 21, who did not mention the candidate she voted for, said “I believe the candidate I voted for has better plans for the youth.”
According to her, the youth needed to be given the right opportunity for them to develop into adulthood and play the needed role expected of them.
The future, she said, belonged to the youth, and that “if you have someone who has good plans for you, what do you do, you vote for that person,” she said.
Miss Philomena Bondzie,19, said the people in her town at Awutu Mankessim and other surrounding areas had been deprived of good roads, water and school materials.
Moreover, the harsh economic conditions, poor business activities and the lack of jobs for the youth in the area were some of the issues she considered.
“I was glad to be part of the process,” she added.
Twenty-year-old Abigail Mensah, who voted at the Atomic Hills Demonstration School “B” Centre was so excited to vote for the first time.
According to her, she was initially nervous, but said after her mother had explained the processes to her, she was eager to vote.
She said she was at the voting centre before 6:00 a.m. and met a long queue but because she wanted to exercise her franchise for the first time, she was not deterred by the queue and also the scorching sun but stayed till it was her turn to vote.
Mark Osei Jnr., 19, who voted at the Sky High School, Ashongman in Accra, was happy to vote for the first time and also take part in choosing a president and parliamentarians for the next four years.
He said before that he was not bothered about what went on in government, but now he has realised that if the citizens elect a good and selfless leader who makes good policies it affects the well-being of the people.
Mark said he would continue to vote in every election because it is his civic responsibility. Moreover, he wants to be part of the decision-making process in the country.