Let my vote count: The disenfranchisement of Ghanaian students abroad

As Ghana approaches the 7 December election, one group of citizens remains overlooked: students studying abroad. 

In the past five years, the number of Ghanaian students going studying in countries like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia has more than quadrupled, reaching 17,000, almost an entire constituency in Ghana. Many of these students spend one or two years abroad, developing themselves academically, professionally, and personally. However, despite their dedication and plans to return and help grow the country, they are unable to participate in the elections that will shape the future of the nation they will soon return to because of the lack of systems that would allow them to vote remotely, such as postal or online voting.

The current voting system mandates physical presence at polling stations within Ghana, a challenge for international students who are far from home. While one might suggest proxy voting, many students are unable to arrange it in time due to the limited window of opportunity allowed to apply for a proxy combined with the uncertainty surrounding visa approvals for their travels abroad. Moreover, proxy voting has been widely criticised for its potential for abuse and manipulation. Although the 2006 Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA) allowed for citizens abroad to register and vote, there has been no progress in implementing the law.

This year, students studying in the U.K. from the United States, Georgia, and Switzerland were able to vote remotely. American students, for instance, voted using absentee ballots through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) in the November 5th elections. Georgian students cast their votes at the Georgian Embassy in London for the parliamentary elections on October 26th. Meanwhile, Swiss students participated in the November 24th elections by receiving postal ballots from their municipality after registering with the Swiss Embassy.

As technology continues to connect the world, the question arises: why should the political participation of Ghanaians abroad be limited by geographical barriers? Many countries have adopted systems that enable their citizens living overseas to vote through absentee ballots, remote platforms or at embassies. Ghana, with its technological potential, should follow suit and implement similar systems to allow Ghanaian students abroad to vote securely and conveniently. Such reforms would ensure that the voices of students who will soon return to their home country are heard in the decisions that shape the nation’s future. More importantly, it would be a significant step in enhancing Ghana's democracy. It would foster a greater sense of civic duty and patriotism among students abroad, encouraging them to remain actively engaged in the politics of their home country.

Elizabeth Dansoa Osei is a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar.