NDI - Ghana

With All Eyes on Ghana, NDI Observers Applaud the Country’s Peaceful Elections

erodriguez — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 15:16:43 +0000

In early December, 30 delegates from 14 countries and four continents began arriving in Accra, Ghana for NDI’s international election observation mission. Experts had warned that the December 7, 2016 election, much like the 2012 election, would likely be very close. But this time there were fears of violence and low confidence in the country’s electoral institutions and staunchly partisan political actors.

According the NDI’s observation mission preliminary statement: “The December 7 polls highlighted the strong and enthusiastic commitment of Ghanaians to their democratic institutions and processes and reaffirmed Ghana’s democratic trajectory and recent history.”

“As the last African country to hold national elections of 2016, all eyes are on Ghana,” said Dr. Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Africa at NDI and one of the delegation leaders. “We hope that the voices of citizens will be heard, as Ghanaians deserve nothing short of meaningful and peaceful polls.”

A polling agent greets NDI observers in the morning as he prepares to open his polling station in Accra.

In addition to Dr. Fomunyoh, the delegation’s other leaders included Ambassador Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary for African Affairs, U.S. State Department; Hon. J. Yvonne Mokgoro, former justice, South African Constitutional Court and Mr. Pat Merloe, senior associate and director of elections, NDI.

The observers represented a very diverse group of political and civic leaders, elections experts and regional specialists. The delegation was comprised of approximately 50 percent women and gender and women’s participation was a major focus of the observation mission.

During their stay in Ghana, the observers participated in briefings on Ghanaian political and electoral processes from Ghanaian experts, political leaders, election administrators, representatives of civil society, as well as NDI staff. Delegates deployed in two-person teams to regional capitals across Ghana to meet with election administrators, parliamentary candidates, domestic observer groups and political and civic activists in these localities. On election day, observers visited polling sites in their area of deployment to watch the voting, tabulation of results and other aspects of electoral proceedings.

At the same time, NDI partnered with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) who employed a Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) to independently verify the accuracy of the presidential election results as declared by the Electoral Commission (EC). CODEO deployed about 8,000 Ghanaians as trained, accredited, non-partisan observers, of which 1,500 were dedicated PVT rapid response observers. Their PVT results closely matched the EC results.

Despite initial concerns, the Ghanaian elections proceeded peacefully and fairly. In their preliminary statement, the NDI observers commended the Electoral Commission for its notable improvements since the 2012 polls and expressed appreciation for the efforts of other election stakeholders. In particular, the delegates praised all the presidential candidates for signing the December 1 Accra Declaration, which expressed each political party’s commitment to peaceful polls. Read the mission’s full statement here.

Ghanaian voters queue to cast their vote for president and parliament as security and polling officials stand watch in order to ensure an orderly process.

“The NDI delegation applauds the people of Ghana for the largely peaceful conduct of these elections, despite earlier apprehensions of political tensions and violence,” said Ambassador Johnnie Carson, co-leader of NDI’s observation mission. “Ghana has underscored its status as a beacon for democracy in the region and, though not without challenges, remains a laudable example for the entire continent.”

NDI’s election observation for the December 7 elections included two pre-election assessment missions in August and October 2016. The delegation conducted its activities in accordance with Ghanaian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, and collaborated with other international observer missions that endorse the Declaration.

NDI’s international election observation mission in Ghana was funded by a grant from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the U.S. Department of State. The Institute’s pre-election missions were funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Published on December 29, 2016

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE'S INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER MISSION TO GHANA’S DECEMBER 7 PRESIDENTIAL AND LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS

emalina — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:12:57 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/27/2016

Resource Type:

International Observation Preliminary Statement

Language:

English

This preliminary statement is offered by the international observer delegation fielded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to Ghana’s December 7, 2016, presidential and legislative elections. The 30person delegation with members from 14 countries was coled by: Johnnie Carson, senior advisor to the president of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), member of the NDI board of directors, and former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs; Yvonne Mokgoro, board chair of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa; Pat Merloe, senior associate and director of electoral programs at NDI; and Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate for Africa and regional director at NDI. Through this delegation, NDI seeks to: demonstrate the international community’s interest in and support for credible and peaceful elections in Ghana; provide an accurate and impartial report on the election process to date; and offer recommendations to improve future electoral processes.

English

Attachment	Size
Preliminary Statement (ENG)	138.34 KB

West African Leaders Develop Principles for Effective Democratic Executive Branch Transfers of Power

jfrant — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:18:42 +0000

Cabo Verde media covered the conference for both radio and television.

Leaders from across West Africa met in Cabo Verde last month to discuss regional guidelines for democratic handovers of power after democratic elections. The November 21-22 gathering represented a significant and timely effort to begin developing international norms and standards around executive branch transitions.

NDI partnered with the Cabo Verde government to host more than 15 current and former government officials from eleven countries, including former Presidents Amos Sawyer of Liberia, Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic and Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde. Representatives from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal also participated in the two day conference, along with several international experts on executive transitions. Meetings focused on how to build upon good practices in political transitions throughout the region.

“The focus of this conference is so germane to the situations in African countries, particularly to Liberia -- one country that stands in anticipation of its first peaceful transition of power from an outgoing active administration to a newly elected and incoming one next year,” said Anthony Kesselly, who serves in the Office of the Vice President of Liberia.

While there are international standards for assessing the quality of the election process, from the campaign period until election day, an international framework for evaluating or improving the transition process does not exist. Political transitions are difficult, especially if the roles and responsibilities of the incoming and outgoing administrations are unclear. Uncertainty presents a host of potential triggers for conflict and dispute, diverting very limited human resources from the task of governing, during a period when expectations for citizens may be particularly high.

“We have to move away from the norm of ‘Who wins, wins everything and who loses, loses everything,’” said Pedro Pires, former President of Cabo Verde.

The participants brought a wealth of experience to the table for what is the first step in a longer process of developing internationally recognized standards around democratic transitions of the executive branch. They presented on specific topics of expertise, covering the mechanics and processes involved in areas such as: the legal and regulatory framework, governing executive branch handovers of power; approaches to engaging other branches of government on policy priorities such as economic stability and national security; inclusion and diversity in a new administration; and strategic communications, particularly for the first 100 days in office.

Pictured from left: Animata Malle-Sanogo, former president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; Amos Sawyer, former President of Liberia; Pedro Pires, former President and Prime Minister of Cabo Verde; Catherine Samba-Panza, former President of the Central African Republic; and Jose Maria Pereira Neves, former Prime Minister of Cabo Verde.

The conference came at a time when there is particular interest in the ongoing executive branch transition in the US. NDI support for executive branch transitions is an important and growing element of Institute programing of NDI support for executive branch transitions --- both through the development of adequate legal and procedural frameworks for executive transitions and specific "transition team" assistance to potential incoming administrations.

“We live at a time where citizen demands of their government are extremely high. Newly elected presidents or prime ministers can’t afford to take months or even weeks to get up to speed and begin to govern. The negative impact of a slow, protracted transition -- or worse, serious missteps during an administration’s early days in office -- on lost economic development is something that most countries simply can’t afford,” said Scott Hubli, NDI’s director of governance programs.

The Principles on Democratic Executive Branch Transitions, which was agreed to by participants at the gathering in Cabo Verde, provides a crucial framework for transitions in the region and for future work by NDI and experts around the world to support the development of norms and standards for future incoming and outgoing administrations.

“The framework of principles, established by representatives of countries in the region, is an important step in providing a roadmap for governments to minimize the potential for disputes and to ensure respect for the voters’ preferences,” said Jodi White former Chief of Staff to Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and President of the Public Policy Forum, who participated in the Cabo Verde conference.

NDI will convene an international symposium in Washington, D.C., to add additional perspectives and approaches on this topic beyond just the West African context. The Institute will bring experts from across the world who have experience with executive branch transfers of power and will seek to engage with executive transition initiatives of the following 2016 U.S. presidential election.

“A smooth and successful transition following an election, is of singular importance to the health of any democracy and to the public’s trust in its institutions,” White said.

Published on Deceber 19, 2016

NDI Ghana Observer Delegation Issues Post-Election Preliminary Statement, Applauds the People of Ghana

erodriguez — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 05:31:28 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/09/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

ACCRA, Ghana – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) today released its preliminary statement of findings and recommendations from its international election observation mission to Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections of December 7, 2016.

The delegation stresses that official election results are not yet complete, and its statement therefore is preliminary in nature. The delegation calls on Ghanaian political parties and candidates to cooperate in good faith with the Electoral Commission and for the results to be expeditiously released. Ultimately it is the people of Ghana who will determine the credibility of the elections, and political leaders should respect the people’s will expressed in the December 7 polls.

The preliminary statement commends the Electoral Commission for its notable improvements since the 2012 polls, and it expresses appreciation for the efforts of other election stakeholders, exemplified by the Accra Declaration for peaceful polls, signed on December 1 by all presidential candidates.

The preliminary statement highlights aspects of voter participation, election administration, and security. NDI’s delegation notes that, overall, voting was peaceful, orderly and well-organized as executed by trained polling officials. Most voters were well-informed about the process and turned out in large numbers.

The delegation’s preliminary statement provides recommendations to the government of Ghana, the Electoral Commission, political parties and candidates, civil society and the media, and security forces. The recommendations focus on promoting peace, expanding communications, and increasing women’s participation. These include:

political leaders calling publicly on their supporters to respond peacefully to the EC’s announcement of election results and to seek redress through legal avenues should there be reason for electoral complaints or disputes;
mitigating political polarization and rancorous conflict between parties by creating mechanisms for ongoing dialogue across party lines both in and outside of the normal legislative context;
organizing a thorough post-election review of the conduct of the 2016 elections and adopting appropriate recommendations to attain and consolidate best practices;
initiating electoral reform early in the next legislature;
actively facilitating women’s participation by creating an enabling environment for meaningful political leadership opportunities for women; and
disbanding vigilante groups and calling on youth to engage peacefully in political processes.

The NDI Ghana observer delegation comprised 30 political and civic leaders, elections experts, and regional specialists from 14 countries. Delegation leadership was as follows: Amb. Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary for African Affairs, U.S. State Department, and member of the board of directors of NDI; Hon. J. Yvonne Mokgoro, former justice, South African Constitutional Court; Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Africa, NDI; and Dr. Pat Merloe, senior associate and director of elections, NDI.

NDI’s election observation for the December 7 elections included two pre-election assessment missions in August and October 2016, the statements of which can be found at www.ndi.org/ghana. The delegation conducted its activities in accordance with Ghanaian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, and collaborated with other international observer missions that endorse the Declaration.

NDI’s international election observation mission in Ghana is funded by a grant from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the U.S. Department of State. The Institute’s pre-election missions were funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Read full statement below:

Attachment	Size
NDI IOM Preliminary Statement - Ghana Dec 9 2016 final.pdf	141.89 KB

JOINT PRE-ELECTION STATEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS IN GHANA

erodriguez — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 23:17:18 +0000

Author:

Ghana IEOM Heads of Mission

Published Date:

12/06/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Five international election observation missions are in Ghana for the December 7, 2016 parliamentary and presidential elections: the African Union (AU), Commonwealth, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU) and National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Today the heads of these missions put out a joint statement calling for peaceful elections and reiterating their commitment to the democratic process in Ghana.

Read full statement below:

Attachment	Size
JOINT PRE-ELECTION STATEMENT OF IEOMS - FINAL.pdf	232.24 KB

CODEO deploys 8000 observers and open its National Information Center ahead of Elections day

erodriguez — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:08:08 +0000

Author:

Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO)

Published Date:

12/06/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has expressed optimism in the ability of Ghanaians to go to the polls peacefully and use tomorrow’s elections as another opportunity to consolidate the country’s democratic and electoral gains. Prof. Greenstreet reiterated that ‘the December 2016 Polls offer Ghanaians another opportunity to rise above these challenges and prove to ourselves and the global community that we are determined to stay on the democratic path and deepen the development of our democracy. We must use this opportunity to elect our leaders and representatives to demonstrate our willingness to participate fully in the democratic process, and, above all, our commitment to accountable governance’.

www.codeoghana.org

See full statement below:

Attachment	Size
Final CODEO 2016 pre-election press release (Dec. 6).pdf	220.08 KB

NDI International Election Observer Mission Arrives in Ghana

erodriguez — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 12:44:04 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/03/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

ACCRA, Ghana – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding an international election observation mission for Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.

The delegation includes 30 political and civic leaders, elections experts, and regional specialists from 14 countries. Leadership of the delegation is comprised of Amb. Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary for African Affairs, U.S. State Department; Hon. J. Yvonne Mokgoro, former justice, South African Constitutional Court; Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Africa, NDI; and Mr. Pat Merloe, senior associate and director of elections, NDI.

Media Type:

Press Release - IOM Arrival Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2016

For more information, contact:

Emily Rodriguez, erodriguez@ndi.org, +233 (0) 242 930 476

NDI International Election Observer Mission Arrives in Ghana

ACCRA, Ghana – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding an international election observation mission for Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.

“The recent peace accord signed by all seven presidential candidates and the country’s consistent record of credible elections demonstrate Ghana’s reputation as one of the more established democracies in West Africa,” said Ambassador Carson. “We expect high interest at the polls on Wednesday and hope that Ghana will continue to lead by example.”

The objectives of the NDI delegation are to provide an accurate and impartial assessment of the administration and character of the election process in Ghana, and to demonstrate the support of the international community to Ghanaian efforts to strengthen democratic processes in their country.

During their stay in Ghana, the observers will participate in briefings on Ghanaian political and electoral processes from Ghanaian experts, political leaders, election administrators, representatives of civil society, as well as NDI staff. Delegates will deploy in two-person teams to regional capitals across Ghana to meet with election administrators, parliamentary candidates, domestic observer groups, and political and civic activists in these localities. On election day, observers will visit polling sites in their area of deployment to watch the voting, tabulation of results, and other aspects of electoral proceedings.

“As the last African country to hold national elections of 2016, all eyes are on Ghana,” said Dr. Fomunyoh. “We hope that the voices of citizens will be heard, as Ghanaians deserve nothing short of meaningful and peaceful polls.”

The NDI delegation will hold a press conference on Friday, December 9 in Accra. At that time, NDI will issue a report with the delegation’s findings and recommendations on steps that could enhance confidence and participation in the election process.

The mission is supported by a grant from the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

###

NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness, and accountability in government.

Statement of the Joint IRI/NDI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Ghana - September 2016

erodriguez — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:27:59 +0000

Author:

NDI & IRI International Election Observation Mission

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Published Date:

11/01/2016

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English

This statement is offered by a delegation organized jointly by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The delegation visited Ghana from August 8 to 12, 2016. The purpose of the mission was to support Ghana’s efforts to conduct peaceful and credible elections in 2016. The delegation’s specific goals were to:

Assess preparation for Ghana’s December 7, 2016, presidential and legislative polls;
Identify potential risks to the good conduct of all aspects of the electoral process;
Provide recommendations to increase the integrity and transparency of the electoral process; and
Demonstrate solidarity with the people of Ghana as they seek to consolidate their democracy through successful elections.

Assess preparation for Ghana’s December 7, 2016, presidential and legislative polls;
Identify potential risks to the good conduct of all aspects of the electoral process;
Provide recommendations to increase the integrity and transparency of the electoral process; and
Demonstrate solidarity with the people of Ghana as they seek to consolidate their democracy through successful elections.

English

Attachment	Size
Joint Ghana PEAM Statement FINAL.pdf	222.34 KB

Statement of the NDI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to the 2016 Ghana Presidential and Parliamentary Elections - October 17 – 21, 2016

erodriguez — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:07:14 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/21/2016

Language:

English

Accra, October 21, 2016 – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) deployed an international delegation to Ghana from October 17 to 21, 2016. The purpose of the mission was to assess preparations for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections and support Ghana’s efforts to conduct credible and peaceful polls. The delegation’s work builds on an earlier joint assessment mission conducted by NDI in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI) in August 2016. NDI plans to deploy international observers across the country for the presidential and parliamentary election slated for December 7, 2016.

The delegation was composed of regional and election experts from North America and Africa, including: Senator Ken Nnamani, former President of the Nigerian Senate and current Chairman of the 2016 Nigerian Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee; Dr. Brigalia Bam, former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa and previously Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches (SACC); Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, NDI; and Richard L. Klein, Senior Advisor for Elections, NDI. The delegation conducted its activities in conformity with international standards as reflected in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, 2005.

The delegation met with: the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC); presidential candidates and political party leaders from the two dominant political parties of Ghana; representatives of civic organizations; women leaders; heads of statutory bodies; journalists; security officials; elder statesmen; and representatives of the international community. The delegation expresses its deepest appreciation to everyone with whom it met for welcoming the mission and for sharing freely their views on the electoral process.

These will be Ghana’s seventh presidential and parliamentary elections since the country’s return to civilian rule and re-introduction of multiparty politics with the emergence of the Fourth Republic. While past elections have not been without their challenges, Ghana has a history of transparent and inclusive polls and Ghanaians hold dearly to their democratic and electoral processes.

The 2016 polls will take place in a more challenging context than past elections. Public confidence in election administration was heavily tested during the protracted petition challenging the 2012 presidential results. The EC has a new Chairperson for the first time since its inception. Based on NDI’s past experience observing Ghanaian elections, intense political competition between the two dominant political parties has been further sharpened by close presidential elections in 2008 and 2012, and the alternation of presidential power in 2000 and 2008. If credible and peaceful, the 2016 elections would further consolidate democratic institutions and practices in Ghana; however, should these polls fail to meet the expectations of the people of Ghana, that would seriously undermine democratic gains made over the past two decades and could negatively impact other countries in the sub-region.

During the delegation’s visit, some Ghanaians raised concerns related to: certain aspects of the election administration; the mechanisms for resolution of electoral disputes; election security; the conduct of political parties; engagement by civil society; media coverage of the elections; and the participation of women in electoral processes.

The joint NDI/IRI delegation in August 2016 noted areas of concern as it made recommendations that various actors could take to promote credible and peaceful elections. NDI’s October delegation found that significant progress has been made to foster communications and transparency, and promote credible elections in 2016. For example, EC efforts to reach out to voters and other stakeholders, more substantive IPAC deliberations, the creation of 17 additional jurisdictions to expedite the adjudication of electoral disputes, and the launch of party manifestos that are contributing to a discussion of issues of national interest. However, other important additional steps still should be taken between now and election day to further enhance confidence and prevent fraud and violence.

Download Full Statement Here

NDI Delegation Presents its findings during a press conference in Accra on Friday, October 21, 2016.

Findings

Election Administration

In consultations with the delegation, Ghanaians highlighted election administration issues of continuing concern pertaining to outreach by the EC, the voter register, nomination of candidates, verification of voters on election day, and the transmission of results and announcement of results.

Engagement with Stakeholders: The need for more engagement between the EC and various stakeholders was previously identified by the joint NDI/IRI delegation in August. Efforts by the EC to improve its outreach directly to the public was noted. The EC continues to meet on a monthly basis with political parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). Party leaders expressed the desire for more frequent meetings with approximately 45 days left before election day. Media practitioners noted the need for more frequent EC briefings for journalists so they could more effectively inform the public about electoral preparations and procedures.

Voter Register: The voters list for the 2016 elections was compiled prior to the delegation’s assessment mission to the country. Political parties raised with the delegation a strong desire to obtain the final certified voters list from the EC in order to ensure their members were included and to assess concerns that it contains deceased, foreign and underage registrants. While the delegation was in Ghana, political parties were informed by the EC on October 18, 2016 that they would be provided a copy in electronic format of the final voters register by November 3, 2016 in accordance with the EC’s electoral calendar.

Nomination of Presidential Candidates: Seventeen aspirants filed nomination papers to contest the presidential election. Concerns were raised by some potential candidates over the increase in presidential nomination fees from 1,000 Cedis to 50,000 Cedis. However, they were unsuccessful in seeking a High Court injunction to prevent the EC from raising the nomination fees. Subsequently, four candidates had their nomination papers approved by the EC for the presidential election – notably flagbearers of the two predominant political parties, one other political party, and one independent candidate. The remaining 13 aspirants had their candidacies rejected: one candidate was unable to pay the nomination fee while 12 had errors in their nomination papers related to the individuals supporting their nomination (parties are required to have the details and signatures from two unique registered voters from each of the 216 districts of the country or a total of 432 individuals). The disqualification of a large number of presidential candidates was a new phenomenon in Ghana. At the time of the delegation’s visit, three of the rejected candidates had petitioned the Supreme Court over the rejection of their candidacies by the EC because of errors in their nomination papers.

Verification of Voters at Polling Stations: The EC has not accepted the “No Verification No Vote” policy advocated by some political parties which would limit voting to only those individuals who are successfully verified by a biometric verification device (BVD). The EC reports there are individuals whose biometric information has been captured, but is of insufficient quality to be verified by the BVDs; thus, limiting verification to only the BVD process could result in the disenfranchising of some eligible voters. The EC explained further that in cases where verification cannot be done by the BVD, the presiding officer in consultation with party agents and observers can manually verify voters based on photographs contained in the voters register. In addition, polling stations would separately track the number of individuals verified by BVD and by the manual process. The delegation notes these positive efforts to not disenfranchise eligible voters. Concerns have also been expressed about the possibility that BVDs could malfunction on election day as happened during the 2012 polls and during the voter registration exercise. In response, the EC will deploy two BVDs to each polling station and will reserve a replacement pool of BVDs in each district.

Transmission of Results: When the joint NDI/IRI delegation visited Ghana in August, the EC was exploring the introduction of an electronic results transmission system (ERTS) to enhance the transparency and accountability of transmission of presidential results from constituency collation centers to the EC in Accra. This system would complement the existing manual procedures proscribed by law. Two vendors provided bids to the EC to implement an ERTS for the 2016 presidential elections. However, neither bid was successful (one failed on technical grounds and the other failed to perform adequately during its demonstration). The EC is currently exploring other potential in-house options to enhance the transmission of results.

Announcement of Results: The EC has committed to posting official polling station level results for the presidential election on its website after the announcement of the official results, which would be a first for Ghana. Such action would allow political parties and interested voters to verify that the polling station results used by the EC to determine the national results for the presidential election are consistent with the results provided to party agents at polling stations. The Open Election Data Initiative (www.openelectiondata.net) provides best practices for the sharing of election related data. The EC also noted the importance of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observer’s (CODEO’s) parallel vote tabulation (PVT) to enhance public confidence in the accuracy of the presidential results.

Dispute Resolution

Concerns were raised to the delegation about the ability of the judiciary to resolve election-related disputes in a timely and impartial manner. Some Ghanaians expressed frustration over the time it took for the courts to resolve such disputes in the past. Further, the decision to commute the sentences of “The Montie 3” for making threats against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was also perceived as likely to undermine the independence of the judiciary. The current petition by three presidential aspirants challenging the rejection of their nomination papers by the EC highlights the need for the timely resolution of electoral disputes. The effect of these petitions has been to delay the EC issuing a declaration of poll for the presidential election. On a positive note, the judiciary’s handling of petitions related to the voter register and requiring the EC to clean the register was cited as a positive example of timely and impartial resolution of election related disputes. Further, the establishment of 17 special courts across the country specifically to address election related disputes was seen as a positive step by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Election Security

The delegation again heard concerns about electoral related violence. Most recently there were incidents of violence in some districts in Brong-Ahafo and Northern regions during the transfer period for voters’ registration. Although these were isolated incidents, they were particularly alarming because some of the violence targeted EC officials and their offices. As a result, the process had to be briefly suspended in some areas. As in other cases, blame was placed on “macho men” or vigilantes associated with the two major political parties. The delegation was informed that, in an effort to reduce the need for “macho men,” the police are now providing security to all presidential candidates. Despite this effort, representatives of the dominant political parties still expressed concern that “macho men” for the opposing party would engage in violence and intimidation on election day against supporters from their own party.

In order to help mitigate potentials for election-related violence, the West African Network for Peacebuilding has established a National Early Warning System (NEWS). This system seeks to identify potential sources of electoral conflicts. Reports are provided by regional and community monitors to a National Election Early Warning and Response Group (NEEWARG) that is housed at the National Peace Council (NPC) and brings together various civil society and state security actors. In response to the reports received NEEWARG is able to formulate and implement strategies to prevent the outbreak of election-related violence.

As noted by the joint NDI/IRI delegation in August, Ghanaian security agencies have established a National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) to coordinate efforts to provide election security. The delegation was briefed on the NESTF’s plans to train security forces on their role at polling stations on election day, how security forces will be identified, as well as its outreach strategy for informing the political parties and the public about its plans.

As noted by the joint NDI/IRI delegation 15 political parties signed the Ada Communique in May 2016 to help promote peaceful elections by encouraging “[t]hat all political parties denounce and renounce the use of violence in resolving electoral disputes.” The National Peace Council (NPC) informed the delegation that it again working to have all presidential candidates publicly commit themselves to peaceful elections before election day (similar to the Kumasi Declaration facilitated by the NPC in 2012). The value of the 2012 political party code of conduct was highlighted to the delegation in several meetings.

Women’s Participation

Concern was expressed that women’s political representation in Parliament which was already low was likely to be further reduced in the 2016 elections. Women currently hold only ten percent of parliamentary seats. However, several incumbent women lost their party primaries and, overall, few women were successfully nominated to stand as candidates in the 2016 polls. Beyond serving as elected officials, concern was expressed that women were insufficiently represented in other aspects of political life, such as polling officials (including presiding officers) and party agents on election day. Serving in such roles can provide women with valuable experience and help build the confidence necessary to later play a large role in political life. It was noted that there may be personal safety challenges related to women serving as polling officials and party agents; at the same time, the presence of women as polling officials or party agents can also help reduce tensions and promote peace at polling stations.

Party Agents

Political parties reported that they are currently in the process of identifying party agents for election day. Party agents play a critical role by serving as the official representatives of parties and candidates at polling stations thereby enhancing the transparency and accountability of the process. However concerns were raised to the delegation that at times unprofessional party agents themselves may disrupt the process, especially when not sufficiently trained and therefore unable to fully understand their role.

Citizen Observers

A number of Ghanaian organizations and networks will observe the 2016 presidential elections. West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) will host a Situation Room (SR) where voters can report violent incidents on election day. These will be reviewed and shared with the appropriate entities, for example the EC or the police, so that immediate action can be taken to resolve the issue. Similarly, a Women’s Situation Room (WSR) will be established to focus specifically on challenges that women may experience on election day. CODEO will deploy 7,000 observers across all ten regions and all 275 constituencies who will send in observer reports throughout the day via coded text messages using mobile phones. As in 2008 and 2012, CODEO as part of its overall observation effort will conduct a PVT in which observers are deployed to a statistically valid sample of polling stations in order to be able to provide independent verification of the presidential election results.

Recommendations

In the spirit of international solidary with the people of Ghana, the delegation offers the following recommendations to various stakeholders on steps that can still be taken to enhance confidence in the electoral process and foster peaceful elections in December 2016.

Electoral Commission

The EC should continue to enhance transparency and confidence in the electoral process by expanding and intensifying its engagement with all stakeholders, and undertaking more vigorous and direct public outreach with voters in urban and rural areas.
The EC should make a quick determination on its methodology and mechanism for the transmission of results on election day and communicate same to political parties, IPAC, the media, civil society and the public at large.
The EC should make available to all stakeholders its communication plan for regular, structured engagement with various stakeholders, and should increase the frequency of these encounters as election day approaches.
The EC should actively facilitate women’s participation as voters, and promote gender balance in the recruitment and deployment of polling officers.
The EC should make election-related data, such as polling station level results, available in accordance with best practices as document by the Open Election Data Initiative (www.openelectiondata.net)

Political Parties

Political parties should reaffirm their commitment to peaceful polls as reflected in the Ada Communiqué of May 2016.
Political parties should reactivate the code of conduct signed in 2012, and reaffirm their commitment to credible and violence-free polls. Party leaders and members at the national, regional, district and local levels should lead campaigns to this effect.
Political parties should undertake effective party agent deployment plans that include training on the voting process, dispute resolution and guidelines for party poll watchers. They should prioritize the engagement of women, youth and other marginalized groups in these activities.
Political parties should provide consistent support to women candidates and address prominently women’s issues. They should also take concrete steps to counter all forms of violence against women in politics and public office.

Government Agencies

In ensuring effective election security, the Government of Ghana should protect citizens’ freedom of expression through all available platforms, including social media. Government officials involved with elections should be encouraged to engage freely with citizens through these platforms.
The Government of Ghana should ensure that the professional integrity of security services and their plans are not compromised by political actors.
The NESTF should continue to raise citizen awareness of issues related to election security and publicize relevant security plans in order to reassure citizens of their overall security.
The National Commission for Civic Education should intensify activities to educate voters about the election process.

Civil Society and Eminent Persons

Civil society organizations should enhance their civic and voter education initiatives and non-violence messaging, especially in rural areas and in local languages consistent with EC guidelines.
Civil society organizations should aggressively publicize their efforts to mobilize thousands of domestic observers to be deployed in all constituencies of the country. Initiatives to complement citizen observation with innovative approaches such as the PVT should be supported and encouraged.
Eminent persons, including religious, traditional, opinion and political leaders, should work jointly and severally to amplify and disseminate anti-violence messages.

Media, working in collaboration with civil society, should amplify efforts to create platforms for candidate and inter-party debates and discussions of issues of national interest.
Media should promote responsible, objective and issue-oriented election reporting, and desist from disseminating misinformation, inflammatory language and hate speech. Users of social media platforms should demonstrate a greater sense of civic responsibility in their interactions.
The National Media Commission and Ghana Journalists Association should promote responsible election reporting and create effective mechanisms to monitor unprofessional conduct.

International Community

Ghana’s development partners should continue and expand their support for civic and voter education and election monitoring efforts. The training of party agents to watch all phases of the process in all parts of the country, especially on election day, is particularly critical.

###

NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institution around the world. Over the past two decades, NDI has worked closely with Ghanaians civic and political organizations to support the development of the country’s democratic institutions and promote transparency and integrity of its elections. For 2016, NDI is deploying international observers and supporting a coalition of Ghanaian civil society organizations to monitor of the presidential and parliamentary elections.

This mission was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

English

Attachment	Size
NDI Ghana Pre-Election Delegation Statement OCT 2016 FINAL PDF.pdf	205.53 KB

Second NDI Delegation to Asses Pre-Election Environment in Ghana

erodriguez — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:21:06 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/17/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

ACCRA, Ghana – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding a delegation to assess preparations for Ghana’s December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections. The mission will build upon the findings of a joint pre-election assessment mission that NDI conducted with the International Republican Institute (IRI) in August.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2016

Local Contact: Courtney Hess, chess@ndi.org, +233 020-864-6309

Washington Contact: Emily Rodriguez, erodriguez@ndi.org, +1 202-728-5527

Second NDI Delegation to Assess Pre-Election Environment in Ghana

The delegation includes regional and election experts from North America and Africa: Senator Ken Nnamani, Chairman of the Nigerian Electoral Reforms Committee and former President of the Nigerian Senate; Dr. Brigalia Bam, former Chair of the South African Independent Electoral Commission; Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director, NDI; and Richard L. Klein, senior advisor for elections, NDI.

This second mission will assess recent developments in the political environment in Ghana and follow up on the recommendations made by the joint NDI-IRI delegation in August. The delegation will meet with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, presidential candidates, political party leaders, civil society representatives and other key actors in the electoral process, and will present its findings at a press conference in Accra on Friday, October 21.

About NDI

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. Over the past 25 years, NDI has conducted more than 150 election observation missions in 62 countries. NDI has worked closely with Ghanaian civic and political organizations since 1992 to support the development of the country's democratic institutions and promote transparency and integrity of the electoral process through advanced techniques in election monitoring. For more information, visit www.ndi.org.

###

Press Statement of the Joint IRI/NDI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Ghana

erodriguez — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 10:52:43 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/12/2016

Accra, August 12, 2016 - The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) deployed an international delegation to Ghana from August 8 - 12, 2016. The purpose of the mission was to assess preparations for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections and support Ghana’s efforts to conduct peaceful and credible polls.

Accra, August 12, 2016 - The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) deployed an international delegation to Ghana from August 8 - 12, 2016. The purpose of the mission was to assess preparations for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections and support Ghana’s efforts to conduct peaceful and credible polls.

The delegation was composed of regional and election experts from North America and Africa including: Ambassador (retired) Johnnie Carson, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and NDI Board Member; Barrister Mike Avwenayeri Igini, former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Nigeria's Cross River and Edo States; Oby Ezekwesili, Senior Advisor for the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, and former Vice President for Africa at the World Bank; Gabrielle Bardall, Trudeau Foundation Scholar and Democracy Assistance Specialist; Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, NDI; and John G. Tomaszewski, Regional Director for Africa, IRI.

Following the press conference today, delegate Oby Ezekwesili, former Vice President for Africa at the World Bank, discusses the historical significance of Ghana's upcoming election with a Ghanaian reporter.

The delegation met with the chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), presidential candidates, political party leaders, civil society representatives, women leaders, journalists, election security officials, representatives of the international community, and several eminent persons and elder statesmen. This statement provides an overview of the delegation’s findings. The full statement will be released in the coming days. The delegation conducted its activities in conformity with international standards as reflected in the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. The delegation expresses its deepest appreciation to everyone with whom it met for welcoming the mission and for sharing freely their views on the electoral process.

Overview of the electoral context

The delegation applauds Ghana's distinction as a beacon of democratic development in Africa, a distinction for which its people are extremely proud. Pillars of Ghana’s democratization efforts include the country's success in conducting multiple national polls since the country’s return to civilian rule and the emergence of the Fourth Republic in 1992, and its strong and independent institutions.

As in previous elections, Ghanaians expect the December 2016 polls to be closely contested between the country’s two leading political parties - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The delegation observed that the perceived high stakes of the election by some party activists have contributed to an increasingly polarized political environment and heightened tensions.

Parties on both sides of the political divide consistently asserted that the credibility of the elections hinges on the impartial conduct of the poll. Confidence in the EC was shaken by protracted litigation over the outcome of the 2012 polls. In the early part of the year, as the EC came under criticism and was pulled to court over the voter register, the credibility of the process came under scrutiny, which raised tensions. The EC has taken concrete steps to increase confidence in the electoral process through enhanced transparency measures and consensus building. However, some party leaders continue to question the adequacy of these actions. In addition, public understanding of these steps remains low.

The delegation noted considerable concern among Ghanaians over the spread of misinformation and the use of inflammatory language and hate speech in the media that escalates tensions and distracts from the policy issues important to citizens.

The delegation heard concerns about recent instances of election-related violence, the proliferation of illegal arms and the emergence of vigilante groups aligned with political parties. The National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) has outlined measures to mitigate these risks at the national, regional and district levels and ensure election security. The NESTF will continue to take actions that build public and stakeholder confidence in their professionalism and impartiality.

Women leaders across the political spectrum, noted with deep concern the very low representation of women in public and political life. Women hold only ten percent of parliamentary seats, and political parties have yet to meet their internal targets for fielding women candidates. Political party leaders acknowledge their shortcomings in this area.

The NDI/IRI delegation awaits questions from the media after articulating their recommendations for the December 2016 polls. (from left to right; John Tomaszewski, Mike Igini, Gabrielle Bardall, Amb. Johnnie Carson, Oby Ezekwesili, and Dr. Chris Fomunyoh)

The delegation appreciates the contribution of Ghanaian institutions and organizations that are promoting citizen participation in the election process and encouraging issue-based political discourse. Significantly, groups including the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), plan to monitor and observe the election process. Their efforts aim to enhance the credibility and peacefulness of the process by deterring and detecting irregularities and identifying early warning signs of violence. The National Peace Council (NPC) plans to substantially contribute to dialogue between political actors and encourage a peaceful election, including through its efforts to advance a political party code of conduct.

Recommendations

In the spirit of international cooperation, and taking into consideration the pride that all Ghanaians take in the strength of their democratic traditions, the delegation offers the following recommendations:

The EC should continue to enhance transparency and confidence in the electoral process by expanding and intensifying its engagement through active consultation with stakeholders and public outreach with voters in urban and rural settings in partnership with civil society organization and the media. New measures adopted by the EC, such as the proposed electronic transmission of results from polling units, should be fully explained to political parties and voters, and transparency measures should be provided to avoid suspicions or misunderstanding.
The EC and political parties should utilize the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) as a venue for active consultations and dialogue, and should disseminate IPAC meeting decisions widely.
Political parties should reaffirm their commitment to peaceful polls as reflected in the Ada Communiqué of May 2016, reject electoral violence in all forms and disassociate themselves from all “vigilante groups” and their activities.
Media should promote responsible, objective and issue-oriented election reporting, and desist from disseminating misinformation, inflammatory language and hate speech. They should hold their members to higher standards of accountability.
All electoral actors, including the EC, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), civil society organizations, the media, and political parties should expand and strengthen efforts to educate voters about the election process.
The EC and political parties should take active measures to increase the participation of women. For the EC, this includes taking measures that facilitate women’s participation as voters and promoting gender balance in the recruitment of polling officers. Political parties should provide consistent support to women candidates, ensure gender balance in the recruitment of party agents and address prominently women’s issues in their party manifestos. Special attention should be paid to countering all forms violence against women in politics and public office.
In ensuring effective election security, the Government of Ghana should protect citizens’ freedom of expression through different platforms, including social media. The professional integrity of the security services and their plans should not be compromised by political actors.

The delegation calls on Ghanaian leaders across the political spectrum, heads of institutions, civic leaders, the media, religious leaders and the population at large to consider the upcoming December 2016 polls as a historic moment to consolidate further peace and democracy, and preserve the highest interests of the country.

###

IRI and NDI are nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions and advancing freedom in the world. In Ghana, IRI has partnered with civic organizations such as the John A. Kufuor Foundation to empower young Africans to be strong leaders in their respective countries, and strengthen their commitment to democratic governance. In 2016, it plans to works with civil society and religious leaders to support peaceful elections through inter-faith dialogue and youth engagement, and plans to conduct a gender assessment of women's participation in the December 2016 elections. In the past two decades, NDI has worked closely with Ghanaian civic and political organizations to support the development of the country's democratic institutions and promote transparency and integrity of elections through international and citizen election monitoring efforts. In 2016, NDI will support a coalition of Ghanaian civil society organizations to conduct effective monitoring and observation of the polls.

The mission was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

NDI and IRI Field Joint Delegation to Assess Pre-Election Environment in Ghana

erodriguez — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:06:18 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/08/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

ACCRA, Ghana – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) are fielding a joint delegation to assess preparations for Ghana’s December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections. The delegation includes regional and election experts from North America and Africa: Ambassador (retired) Johnnie Carson, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and board member, NDI; Gabrielle Bardall, Scholar and Democracy Assistance Specialist for the Trudeau Foundation; Oby Ezekwesili, Senior Advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative; Barrister Mike Avwenayeri Igini, former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Nigeria’s Cross River and Edo States; Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa, NDI; and John Tomaszewski, Africa Regional Director, IRI.

The purpose of the mission is to support Ghana's ability to deliver credible and peaceful elections in 2016. The delegation will meet with members of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, presidential candidates, political party leaders, members of parliament, civil society representatives and journalists, and will present its findings at a press conference in Accra on Friday, August 12.

Over the last 25 years, NDI has conducted more than 150 election observation missions in 62 countries. Since 1983, through international election observation missions and assessments, IRI has monitored 204 elections in 57 countries.

“The delegation looks forward to open discussions that will help foster consensus building around concrete steps that should be taken to ensure a credible poll in December,” said Ambassador Johnnie Carson.

About NDI

About IRI

The International Republican Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide. IRI enables political parties to become more issue-based and responsive, helps citizens to participate in government planning, and works to increase the role of marginalized groups in the political process. Since 1983, IRI has monitored 204 elections in 57 countries through international observation missions and assessments. In Ghana, IRI has partnered with civic organizations such as the John A. Kufuor Foundation to empower young Africans to be strong leaders in their respective countries, and strengthen their commitment to democratic governance. IRI also continues to support the conduct of peaceful elections through inter-faith dialogue and youth engagement. For more information, visit www.iri.org.

###

Ghana: Ensuring Credible and Peaceful Elections in 2016

njankowicz — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 19:14:28 +0000

Author:

Kofi Annan Foundation

Publisher:

Kofi Annan Foundation

Published Date:

01/07/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

As part of the Kofi Annan Foundation's Electoral Integrity Initiative’s (EII) efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections, two senior experts -- NDI's Pat Merloe and Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chair of Nigeria's Election Commission (INEC) -- are in Accra to consult and share experiences with the country’s election stakeholders.

7 January 2016 - As part of the Kofi Annan Foundation's Electoral Integrity Initiative’s (EII) efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections, two senior experts are in Accra to consult and share experiences with the country’s election stakeholders.

Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chair of Nigeria's Election Commission (INEC), who steered his country’s historic 2015 electoral process, and Dr. Patrick Merloe, Director of Electoral Integrity Programmes at the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), are visiting Ghana's Election Commission as well as political party and civil society leaders from 6-7 January.

"Our visit is an indication of the early and keen interest of the international community in seeing credible, peaceful elections in Ghana this year," said Patrick Merloe. "The warm welcome given to us by Election Commission of Ghana and other stakeholders is reassuring."

"We have noted the political polarisation in Ghana," said Professor Jega, "and we encourage all stakeholders to work together to ensure electoral integrity. Peaceful, credible elections are the responsibility of all, and not only of the Electoral Commission. Candidates, political parties and civil society all have a role to play.”

Although Ghana has established a distinguished electoral track record since the return to multi-party democracy, each election has seen tensions flare and accusations of electoral malpractice fly.

The EII will be encouraging others in the international community to pay close attention to Ghana's 2016 elections and to offer continuing support.

The EII was born of the conclusions of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy & Security’s report, Deepening Democracy, chaired by Mr. Annan. It is an informal group under the auspices of the Kofi Annan Foundation of high-level election experts and former statespersons which aims to reinforce the credibility of elections with a view to ensuring the full benefits of democracy, which include peace and security, inclusive development and the respect of human rights and the rule of law.

For further information on the EII mission to Ghana, contact Araba Arhin (+233 20 811 53 03 or +233 261 429 115). For further information on the EII, please contact Sébastien Brack (+ 41 22 919 7553 or +41 79 920 2183 or brack@kofiannanfoundation.org)

English

Sandra Pepera

skincaid — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:41:17 +0000

Sandra Pepera is a career diplomat and international development professional. Before joining NDI as its director for Gender, Women and Democracy in 2014, she spent thirteen years as a senior officer at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), including leading programs in the Caribbean, Rwanda-Burundi and Sudan. Prior to joining DFID, Sandra spent time in British domestic politics; lecturing in political science and international relations at the University of Ghana; and as a political analyst in the Political Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She has a portfolio of skills and experience which include strategy development, political and risk analysis, diplomacy, general management and corporate governance.

Much of Sandra’s career has been spent working in or on transitional economies, focusing on the building of resilient and inclusive institutions. She led work on women and politics at the University of Ghana and in outreach public policy during the period of intense and unstable political transition in the early 1990s. This included participating in a program that supported the ANC Women’s League during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to majority democratic rule in 1993.

Sandra is a member of the Cambridge Sustainability Leaders Network, the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Global Board Ready Women initiative, and the International Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Journal for International Affairs (the Round Table). She holds the Financial Times Diploma for Non-Executive Directors, and serves as a trustee for the pension fund of an intergovernmental organization.

NDI’s Pat Merloe Testifies Before Congress on U.S. Election Support in Africa

blesswing — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:32:58 +0000

NDI Director of Electoral Programs Pat Merloe testified at a hearing, “U.S. Election Support in Africa” on March 18 before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

“Support for democratic elections in Africa should build longer-term democratic political dynamics that result in responsive, accountable governance,” Merloe said. “International election observation can play an important role in achieving peaceful, credible elections in Africa.”

Watch the hearing »

Read Pat Merloe’s full statement here »

Read more:

NDI's Christopher Fomunyoh Testifies Before Congress on "Nigeria on the Brink?"

Experts to Discuss Critical African Elections at NDI

Published on March 18, 2015

Attachment	Size
See the 2015-2016 calendar for African elections	60.27 KB
See a map of 2015-2016 African elections	129.47 KB