By Iddi Yire
Accra, Nov 22, GNA – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has extended electoral assistance to the National Peace Council (NPC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and two local civil society organizations (CSOs).
The two beneficiary CSOs are the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA).
The funding support is part of efforts by the regional bloc under its protocol on democracy and good governance to support activities geared towards the peaceful conduct of Ghana’s December 7 general election.
Mr Mohammed Lawan Gana, Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Ghana, at a ceremony in Accra, presented funding support of $50,000.00 to the NPC and $100,000.00 to the NCCE; while the CODEO and FOSDA each received $30,000.00.
The funding support for the Peace Council was received jointly by Mr. George Amoh, the Executive Secretary of the NPC and Mrs. Janet Dedei Sarney-Kuma, Director responsible for Capacity Development and Outreach at the NPC.
Mrs. Lucille Hewlett Annan, NCCE Commission Secretary, received that of the Commission.
Whereas that of CODEO was received by Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
Madam Susan Sugri Batesimah, Finance and Administration Officer, FOSDA, received that of her organization.
Mr. Gana, in his remarks, noted that the funding support was ECOWAS’ contribution for assistance to electoral stakeholders in preparation for the forthcoming general election in Ghana.
He noted that ECOWAS had credited the bank accounts of the beneficiary institutions and that the ceremony was just a formality to hand over to them, for the country to know that this was what ECOWAS had done in fulfillment of ECOWAS’ protocol on democracy and good governance.
The beneficiary institutions at the event also acknowledged receipt of the funding support.
Mrs. Annan, on behalf of the beneficiary institutions, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for the support.
She noted that the NCCE was holding a dialogue series throughout the 276 constituencies in the country to present a free platform for all parliamentary candidates in this year’s general election to enable them tell Ghanaians what they would do for them if they were elected to power.
Mr. Amoh said plans were underway for the signing of the Peace Pact by the presidential candidates.
The pact is aimed at promoting peaceful conduct among political parties in the December 7 general election.
In attendance at the meeting was the advanced team of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Ghana.
GNA