Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lead its Election Observation Mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The appointment, announced by the Office of the Former President on Thursday, November 12, 2026, will see Mr Akufo-Addo lead a 200-member team of election observers drawn from across the West African sub-region.
The mission is being organised in accordance with ECOWAS’ Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, adopted in 2001, which provides a framework for promoting democratic principles, credible elections and good governance among member states.
According to the statement, the observer mission will comprise experts and representatives from Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Electoral Commissions, ECOWAS ambassadors accredited in Abuja and members of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise.
Other members will include representatives of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, ECOWAS Parliamentarians, electoral commissions of member states, civil society organisations, media practitioners and electoral experts from across the region.
The deployment is part of ECOWAS’ efforts to support democratic governance and promote credible electoral processes within its member states.
Mr Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s fifth President under the Fourth Republic, served as Head of State from January 2017 to January 2025.
His appointment to lead the mission places him at the forefront of the regional bloc’s election observation efforts in Nigeria as the country prepares for its 2027 general elections.
