FOSDA launches ‘Ballots not Bullets’ App to promote peaceful elections

The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has officially launched the Citizen Action for Peaceful Elections (CAPE) ‘Ballots not Bullets’ App, at Mensvic Hotel – East Legon in Accra.

The cutting-edge digital platform designed to empower citizens to actively contribute to ensuring peaceful elections.

The CAPE App enables individuals to report incidents of electoral violence in real time, providing a critical tool to monitor and respond to incidents before, during, and after the elections. Citizens can share detailed reports, including the location and description of incidents, which are instantly logged and visualized on a live dashboard.

The app’s dashboard aggregates all reported cases, offering citizens, civil society organizations, and stakeholders a transparent, real-time view of electoral violence across the country. By fostering public awareness and accountability, the CAPE App aims to strengthen the democratic process and uphold peace during elections.

This initiative is part of FOSDA’s flagship Ballots Not Bullets project, which advocates for non-violence and constructive engagement in democratic processes. The development and rollout of the CAPE App have been made possible through the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), underscoring the regional commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections.

“The CAPE App represents a significant milestone in our efforts to safeguard the integrity of elections and promote peace. By empowering citizens to report incidents and increasing transparency, we can collectively ensure elections remain a tool for progress, not conflict.”

As Ghana prepares for its general elections the CAPE App is set to play a vital role in preventing and mitigating electoral violence, providing a model for leveraging technology in fostering peaceful and democratic governance.

The app can be downloaded via www.cape.fosda.org/download and the live electoral violence incident dashboard can be accessed www.cape.fosda.org/live