The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to initiate a series of stakeholder engagements involving women, civil society organizations (CSOs), and people with disabilities (PWDs) at national, regional, and district levels.

These engagements will take place from November 4 to 8, 2023, with the aim of educating and mobilizing all relevant stakeholders for the upcoming District Level Elections (DLEs) scheduled for December 19.

The DLEs will determine the assembly and Unit Committee members in various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies across Ghana.

These elections will occur in 6,272 electoral areas and 38,622 polling stations spread across 259 districts.

Notably, no elections will be conducted in the Nkoranza North and South districts in the Bono East region, as their polls took place in April 2020, and the next election for both districts is slated for 2025.

The EC has outlined a comprehensive timetable for the 2023 DLEs. Aspirants can submit their nominations on November 16 and 17, 2023, while the notice of poll for the elections will be posted between November 29 and December 4, 2023.

From December 1 to 14, 2023, an electoral platform will be provided for candidates to communicate their messages to the electorate, culminating in the actual elections on December 19, 2023.

To ensure the accuracy of the voter register, the EC has scheduled a nationwide voter exhibition exercise from November 3 to 9, 2023, spanning all 38,622 polling stations. Register authentication will be conducted between November 24 and 28, 2023.

Several activities leading up to the DLEs have already occurred, including the voter registration exercise (September 2 to October 2, 2023), transfer of votes (October 3 to 9, 2023), and replacement of lost voter identification cards.

The DLEs are held every four years, with a one-year gap between the local-level elections and the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

This electoral practice aims to promote greater citizen involvement in the democratic process, consistent with the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936), as amended by Act 940.