The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has deployed 100 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) across the 16 regions of the country.
The LTOs will be observing the pre-election environment from October 1, 2024, to December 4, 2024, in the lead up to the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024.
The observers will monitor constituency-level pre-election activities of key election stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the National Peace Council (NPC), security agencies, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, civil society/community-based organizations (CSOs/CBOs), and the media.
The CODEO long-term observers will also be on the lookout for incidents such as intimidation and harassment of political opponents and citizens, violence, vote buying, destruction and removal of party paraphernalia, use of abusive and inflammatory language or hate speech at party rallies, human right abuses, destruction of public property, violation of election procedures, chiefs engaging in partisan politics, abuse of incumbency, among other things.
Prior to their deployment, the LTOs participated in a two-day training workshop, conducted simultaneously in Koforidua, Eastern Region, for the southern sector, and Kumasi, Ashanti Region, for the northern sector of the country.
Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at CDD-Ghana, speaking at the training in Kumasi, emphasized the significance of the LTO mission, saying, “Our long-term observation mission is essential in promoting transparency and building public confidence in the electoral process.
By deploying observers months before election day, we can identify potential and emerging issues and hotspots early and work with stakeholders to address them for a free, fair, and credible election.
” In Koforidua, Mr. Albert Arhin, the CODEO National Coordinator, spoke about the Coalition’s long-standing dedication to ensuring electoral integrity through citizen observation exercises.
He expressed gratitude to the observers for their willingness to participate in the long-term observation exercise.
“CODEO’s commitment to electoral integrity in Ghana spans decades, and it’s through the dedication of citizen observers like yourselves that we’ve been able to make significant contributions to our democratic process.
On behalf of CODEO, I commend you for making yourselves available for the training workshop which introduces you to your roles, responsibilities, and duties as observers and equips you with the skills and information necessary for fulfilling your role effectively as observers,” Mr. Arhin stated.
During the training session in Kumasi, Mr. Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programs and Operations at CDD-Ghana, admonished the observers to be diligent and prioritize their safety in the field.
“As you go to the field to observe, I urge you to approach your duties with the utmost diligence by reporting what you observe accurately and honestly.
However, your personal safety is paramount—always prioritize your well-being and adhere to the safety protocols we’ve outlined,” he added.
CODEO will keep the public and all stakeholders informed of findings from its pre-election observation through bi-weekly press releases, which will be based on weekly observation reports submitted by the LTOs.
CODEO takes this opportunity to urge all electoral stakeholders to uphold democratic values in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.
Political parties are encouraged to conduct their campaigns responsibly, avoiding language or actions that could incite violence or ethnic divisions. Political leaders should promote peaceful discourse, respect for the rule of law, and focus on issue-based campaigns.
Finally, we call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to enhance transparency in the electoral process by ensuring the timely dissemination of accurate information on all election-related activities.
Source: www.kumasimail.com/ IJB-Kumasi
