The Electoral Commission (EC) has confirmed that all preparations are in place for the District Level Elections (DLE) scheduled to occur nationwide on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

This marks the eighth occasion since Ghana embraced democratic rule in 1992 for citizens to elect their local representatives.

The last DLE took place in November 2019, and according to the District Assembly Elections Act, these elections occur every four years, with a mandate to be held at least six months apart from parliamentary elections.

The EC disclosed that 6,215 electoral areas across 216 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies will be covered on the electoral frontline, excluding Nkoranza North and South in the Bono East Region.

Over 66,000 individuals are vying for positions in the District Assembly and Unit Committee.

The data from the EC reveals a total of 66,257 candidates, with 18,755 for assembly member positions and 47,502 for unit committee member positions. Despite this increase in candidates compared to four years ago, voter apathy remains a challenge.

The historical data indicates that voter turnout has varied over the years. In 1988/89, the turnout was 59.3%, dropping significantly to 29.3% in 1994.

It increased to 41.6% in 2002 but saw a decline to 33.1% in 2006. Subsequent years showed fluctuating turnout figures, with 30.6% in 2015.

The gender disparity in participation is also evident, with only six percent of women contesting assembly member positions and 11.6 percent for unit committee positions.

Despite these challenges, various organizations, including the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), have urged Ghanaians to exercise their democratic right by participating in the elections.

The GJA emphasized the importance of securing a better future by electing competent officers to lead local development processes.As the nation prepares for the DLE, attention remains on addressing historical issues of voter apathy and gender disparity to enhance citizen engagement at the local level.