AU Okays 40 Observers For Ghana Polls

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has approved the deployment of 40 short-term observers to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ghana scheduled for December 7, 2016.

The short-term observers will complement the work of 4 core team of election analysts and 10 long-term observers who have been deployed in the country since late October 2016, and have been following and reporting on the pre-election preparations and overall political environment.

The deployment of the AU Mission to the Ghana is in line with paragraph VI (d) of OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, paragraph 4.6 of the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions as well as the democratic principles and values enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The aim is to contribute to democratic consolidation in Ghana.

The AU Short-Term Observation Mission is led by Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of the Republic of Namibia, and comprises observers drawn from the Pan African Parliament, the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, Election Management Bodies, Civil Society, Think Thanks, and independent experts from 25 African countries.

The Mission will deploy to the Republic of Ghana from 26 November to 10 December 2016.

While expressing satisfaction over reports that the pre-election period, including electoral campaigns, has been generally peaceful and the process genuinely competitive, the Chairperson “calls on all stakeholders to continue to maintain the prevailing peace before, during and after the elections”. Accordingly, she “wishes Ghanaians smooth, peaceful, transparent and credible conduct of the upcoming elections”.