By Christopher Arko
Accra, Oct.14 GNA – The Institute for Democratic Governance and the Civic Forum Initiative (IDEG-CFI) are set to deploy some 1,500 election observers nationwide in preparation for the December 7 elections.
IDEG-CFI, the second-largest domestic election observer group in Ghana, routinely recruits, trains, and dispatches volunteers to monitor elections throughout the country.
Mr. Kwesi Jonah, Senior Research Fellow at IDEG, emphasised during a training session for regional coordinators and focal persons that the deployment of election observers was to ensure peaceful, credible, and transparent elections.
The training, held at IDEG House in Accra, was attended by 30 coordinators from all 16 regions, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed for effective election monitoring. The session featured presentations from officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) and election management experts.
Mr. Jonah also underscored the significance of election observation in promoting transparency and trust in the electoral process.
He noted that given the complexities of the 2024 elections, particularly the mistrust surrounding the EC’s operations, it was crucial for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other independent entities to actively monitor the elections and provide credible assessments, rather than leaving that responsibility solely to political parties.
The training was conducted by resource persons from the EC, including Mr. Fred Tetteh and Mr. Michael Boadu, along with Mr. Douglas Quartey, a CSO elections management expert.
The facilitators covered key aspects of the election process, including the rules and regulations governing elections, the roles and responsibilities of observers, and the reporting mechanisms for monitoring the elections.
EC officials have indicated that for the 2024 elections, about 9,200 polling stations have been identified as electoral flashpoints, which marks a reduction from the number identified during the 2020 elections.
Mr. Quartey conducted a session on the operationalisation of the Elections Situation Rooms, which would function as hubs for real-time election monitoring.
He explained the communication channels between field observers and the national command center and highlighted the use of digital tools to ensure timely reporting of incidents to relevant bodies, such as the EC and the National Election Security Task Force.
This training, co-funded by the European Union, the Norwegian Embassy, and Oxfam, marks a crucial step in IDEG-CFI’s preparations to deploy election observers across the country.
GNA