By Several homeless first-time voters have lost their voter identification cards following a recent street clearance operation by city authorities, during which their belongings were burned.
The affected individuals report that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) operations have left them disenfranchised, as they are now unable to participate in the upcoming election without their voter ID cards.
“We really wanted to vote in this year’s elections, but they came to evict us from where we sleep and burnt our belongings.”
The homeless youth also voiced frustration over the country’s struggling economy.
In interviews with JoyNews’ Shola Adeyemi, many shared that they left their homes in search of better opportunities in the city, hoping to earn money to support their parents or save for education, as they have limited or no family support.
However, life on the streets has proven to be far more difficult than they anticipated. Despite working hard, they say they are struggling to make ends meet.
The young individuals also expressed disillusionment with the political system, stating that politicians have repeatedly promised shelter, well-paying jobs, and other forms of support during election campaigns, but have failed to deliver once in office.
For many, the recent actions by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have only deepened their sense of betrayal.
“Politicians come and make a lot of promises to us, but they never fulfill them. Until we see real change, we won’t bother voting,” one said.
In just 29 days, voters across the country will head to the polls to choose who will lead the nation from January 5, 2025.
As December 7 approaches, the political campaigns are heating up, with parties rolling out their pledges to transform the country if given the chance to govern.
