General Right to
Vote
Constitution:
(1992)
• Section 42 states: "Every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years
of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled
to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda."
Specific Inclusion
of People with Disabilities
Constitution:
(1992)
• Section 29 discusses in detail the "Rights of the Disabled."
These include: right to live with their families, a normal living environment
in an institution, protection from discrimination, special consideration
in judicial proceedings, access to appropriate facilities for disabled
in public places, etc.
Exclusion Based
on Mental Disability
Constitution:
(1992)
• Section 9 subsection (2) states: "A person shall not be qualified
to be a member of Parliament if he…(b) has been adjudged to be of
unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force
in Ghana."
• Section 42 states: "Every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years
of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled
to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda."
Electoral Law:
(1992: Representation of People Law)
• Section 7 subsection (1) states: "A person qualifies to be
registered as a voter if…(b) he is of sound mind."
• Section 94 subsection (2) states: "A person shall not be qualified
to be a member of Parliament if he…(b) has been adjudged or otherwise
declared (ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic
under any law in force in Ghana."
Voter Assistance
by Other Citizens
Electoral Law:
(1992: Representation of People Law)
• Section 31 subsection (4) states: "A person who has undertaken
to assist (a) a blind voter to vote; or (b) a voter who is incapacitated
from voting by any other physical cause to vote, shall not communicate
at any time to another person information as to the candidate for whom
that disabled voter intends to vote or has voted, or as to the number,
if any, on the ballot paper given for the use of the disabled voter."
Poll Worker Manuals:
(Election Officials' Manual: Produced by the Electoral Commission of Ghana
1996)
• The voter may be assisted by a person of his or her own choice.
• It is necessary that poll worker record on the Voters Register
that the voter was assisted and the reason for the assistance." P
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Promotes Access
Constitution:
(1992)
• Section 29, subsection (6) states, "As far as practicable,
every place to which the public has access shall have the appropriate
facilities for disabled persons."
