Commonwealth observers arrive to monitor Ghana polls

Politics of Monday, December 7, 2020

Source: FM class

2020-12-07

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), whose members hail from various Commonwealth countries with backgrounds ranging from politics, elections, civil society and human rights, as well as legal fields, has come to Ghana for presidential elections. and parliamentarians to be held on Monday, December 7, 2020.

The group has already received reports from the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, police and civil societies.

Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group include President – Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, former President of the East African Court, Rwanda; Musa Mwenye, SC, former Attorney General of Zambia; and Baroness Denise Patricia Kingsmill, Member of the House of Lords, UK.

The other members are Marcella Samba-Sesay, President of National Election Watch (new), Sierra Leone, and Hon Martha Karua, former Minister of Justice of Kenya.

In a statement, COG President Dr. Ugirashebuja said: “We recognize the importance of these elections for the people of Ghana and appreciate the challenges they face as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. These elections are also the first to which the Commonwealth Secretariat has sent a group of observers since the pandemic began. “

“We are here to observe the electoral process and we will act impartially and independently as we examine your organization and conduct. We will try to assess the pre-election environment, Election Day activities, and the post-election period.

“We will then assess whether it has been carried out in accordance with the international and regional standards that Ghana has committed to, including the laws of the country itself.”

The Commonwealth Ghana Chief of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Mr. John Apea stated:

“Ghana has always been the beacon of democracy in Africa, and I hope this continues and that observers act impartially. The COG will issue an interim statement of its preliminary findings on December 9. A final report will be presented to the Secretary General and subsequently made available to the public ”.