ECOWAS Mobilizes Over 100 Observers for Ghana’s December 7 Elections

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has confirmed the deployment of over 100 observers to monitor Ghana’s December 7 general elections.

According to Serigne Mamadou Ka, Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, this initiative is aimed at ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.

An advance team of 16 long-term observers arrived in Ghana on November 20, 2024, with an additional 90 short-term observers expected to join between December 2 and 3. The observers will be stationed across all 16 regions, with a five-member core team based in Accra. Leading the mission will be former Nigerian Vice-President Nnamadi Sambo.

In addition to the observer deployment, ECOWAS has provided a $210,000 grant to key institutions in Ghana to support the elections. The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) received $100,000 for voter education, while the National Peace Council (NPC) was allocated $50,000 for mediation efforts. Civil society groups, including CDD-Ghana and FOSDA, each received $30,000 to address misinformation, enhance peace efforts, and foster non-violent participation.

Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, emphasized the importance of peaceful and credible elections, praising Ghana as a model for democracy in the region.

He urged all stakeholders to uphold democratic values during the electoral process.

The mission underscores ECOWAS’ dedication to promoting democracy and stability in West Africa.

Through collaborations with local institutions, initiatives such as the ‘Ballot not Bullet’ campaign by FOSDA and fact-checking efforts by CDD-Ghana aim to combat misinformation and ensure transparency during the polls.

Serigne Mamadou Ka reiterated the need for peaceful elections, emphasizing that “democracy thrives when the process is credible, and the outcome is accepted by all.”