The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has predicted a higher voter turnout for election 2012, and called on all stakeholders to marshal the necessary operational requirements to manage the high inflow of electorates on election Day.

NCCE survey made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the Presidential election envisage higher voter turnout of 94.9% against 2.2% who have decided not to vote whilst about 2.8% are undecided. The survey predicted 95% male and 94.9% female turnout.

Two per cent of the male respondents and 2.3% of the female respondents said they would not vote whilst 2.9% of male and 2.6% of female are undecided. The regional statistics show that voter turnout is expected to hit 99.7% in the Upper East Region, 97.2% in the Volta Region, 96.7% in both the Upper West and Ashanti regions respectively; 95.4% in the Brong Ahafo Region and 94.6% in the Northern Region.

The rest are; 94.5% in the Eastern Region, 94.4% in the Western Region, 92.7% in the Central region; and 91.4% in the Greater Accra Region.

According to the NCCE, 7,497 persons responded to the questionnaire, whilst a small number of 39 persons included in the sample did not respond.

On social-demographic characteristics of respondents, the statistics showed that out of 7,497 persons who responded to the questionnaire, 3,782 representing 50.4% were female and 3,665 representing 48.9% male.

The statistics showed that the voter turnout for the parliamentary election is 1.2% lower than the presidential election turnout.

About 93.7% of the respondents said they would vote in the parliamentary election whilst 2.7% said they would not, with 3.5% undecided.

The data also revealed a 94% of male, as against 93.4% female voter turnout in the parliamentary election.

Mrs. Gertrude Zakariah-Ali, NCCE Director of Research, Gender and Equity explained that persons aged between 21 to 30 constituted the highest number of 2,107, representing 28.8% of the age group of respondents.

Thirty-one to 40 constituted 1,892, representing 25.2% whilst the largest proportion of the respondents 2,924, representing 39.5% have basic education as their highest attainment.

In terms of occupation, majority of respondents were either traders or farmers... “Of the 7,497 respondents, 1,511 representing 20.1% are engaged in trading as their dominant occupation and farming is the next occupation of importance as 1,492 representing 19.9% are engaged in it.

The data also show that 82% of all the respondents who are into trading are women, whilst more than half 59.9% of all unemployed respondents are women. In terms of marital status 56.3% of respondents are married, 30% are single, 5.3% are widowed, 3.8% are divorced and 3.5% are separated.

In terms of religion, 75.5% are Christians, 19.4% are Moslems and 3.5% are traditionalists.

Mrs. Charlotte Osei, NCCE Chairman, told the GNA that it is great importance to most Ghanaians that the 2012 general elections will be fair, transparent, peaceful and credible.

“Which will also serve as a barometer against which the winning party will be judged based on the matters raised by the political parties during the campaigns,” she said.

Mrs. Osei said the NCCE was up to its constitutionally mandated task to formulate, implement and oversee programmes intended to inculcate in the citizenry awareness of their civic responsibilities and appreciation of their right and obligation as free people.

“In furtherance to this, the Commission has taken up the challenge to equip voters with adequate information that will enable them make informed choice at the polls,” she added.