Codeo deploys observers ahead of Dec 7 polls

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has trained and deployed 65 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) across the 16 regions.

These specially trained observers are to monitor the pre-election environment in 65 constituencies from Tuesday, September 1 to Sunday, December 6.

A statement issued by CODEO’s National Coordinator Albert Arhin on Monday, August 31 said the observers will be monitoring activities of key stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), the security agencies, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, civil-society groups as well as the media.

“Among other things, the LTOs will be observing campaigning activities of political parties and candidates, civic education activities of relevant stakeholders, political discussions on local media platforms, and the inclusion  and participation of marginalized groups in political activities and policy discussions.

“They will also observe preparatory activities of the EC such as vote transfer and voter education as well as the exhibition of the provisional voter register.”

This special exercise, according to CODEO, is fundamental to its efforts as “it provides the opportunity to assess the level of preparedness of key stakeholders towards the elections”.

“It also provides early warning of relevant issues which may undermine the integrity of the polls and provides an opportunity to mitigate such issues through appropriate and timely interventions.”

The statement said these observers will be immediately followed by those to be deployed on election day.

Their findings will, however, be made known through monthly press releases based on weekly reports.

Source: 3news.com|