Ghana Voter Crawls 30 Meters to Cast Ballot

When Frank Nti arrived at his polling station in Ghana's Assin South Constituency on January 31, he faced a simple but profound choice. He could turn back, or he could drop to his hands and knees and crawl 30 meters across sharp gravel to cast his vote in the NPP presidential primary.

He chose to crawl. Fellow delegates at the Roman Catholic School Voting Centre stood frozen as Nti, a physically challenged Polling Station Secretary, made his way across the dusty, uneven ground. One witness couldn't believe what he was seeing, asking aloud if the man truly intended to crawl the entire distance.

Nti's expression made his answer clear. This was his mission, and he would finish it on his own terms. The two-term party official refused every offer of assistance as the morning sun beat down on the rugged terrain.

"I'm a human being like any other, so I won't let my physical challenge let me down," Nti told reporters after casting his ballot. The lotto forecaster and father of three transformed what could have been a moment of pity into something far more powerful: a masterclass in civic duty.

When he finally reached the polling station, Nti found support waiting. Local police helped him navigate the trickiest parts of the school grounds, and Electoral Commission officials provided a chair so he could vote comfortably and privately. "That was so helpful to me and I thank them from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Why This Inspires

Nti's 30-meter journey wasn't just about one vote. It was a living reminder that democracy only works when everyone participates, regardless of the obstacles in their path. His actions spoke louder than any campaign speech about the value of each person's voice in shaping their country's future.

The father of three used his moment in the spotlight to issue a challenge to others in Ghana's disability community. "Get involved to champion your cause; don't shy away," he urged, framing political participation as essential advocacy rather than optional citizenship.

Nti refused to reveal which candidate earned his hard-won vote, but his loyalty to democratic participation remained crystal clear. "I'll work with any candidate who wins," he pledged, embodying the unity his party has called for throughout the primary season.

His crawl proved that the strength to participate in democracy doesn't require the ability to walk.