Ex-President Jonathan Leads West African Delegation To Assess Ghana’s December Polls

Arriving in Accra over the weekend, the WAEF staff has already begun consultations aimed toward minimising election-related conflicts and selling free and truthful electoral processes within the area.

The West African Elders Discussion board (WAEF) commenced its pre-election evaluation mission in Accra, Ghana, on Monday.

The delegation is led by former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, alongside Kadre Need Ouedrago, the previous Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and previous president of the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) Fee.

Arriving in Accra over the weekend, the WAEF staff has already begun consultations aimed toward minimising election-related conflicts and selling free and truthful electoral processes within the area.

Nonetheless, their discussions included conferences with key political figures, corresponding to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and incumbent Vice President, and former President John Mahama, the flagbearer for the principle opposition Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC).

The delegation has additionally engaged with varied civil society teams.

In the meantime, in Tuesday, the WAEF mission is scheduled to proceed its discussions with different essential stakeholders, together with the management of the Electoral Fee of Ghana, the Electoral Safety Activity Power, and the Nationwide Peace Council (NPC).

Jonathan defined the significance of the Discussion board’s efforts, stating that their mediation is a part of a broader technique to stop election-related conflicts all through West Africa.

He identified that poorly organised elections are sometimes a supply of unrest within the area, reinforcing the necessity for adherence to regional and worldwide electoral protocols to make sure the integrity of the electoral course of and stop conflicts.

He counseled Ghana as considered one of West Africa’s most secure democracies, noting that the nation has earned a status for conducting peaceable elections.

He acknowledged, “Compared to most African nations, Ghana stands out as a constructive instance of democratic follow. We’re very hopeful that the upcoming election will proceed equally.”

The 2024 polls will mark Ghana’s ninth consecutive basic election for the reason that inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992.

The West African Elders Discussion board (WAEF), convened by Dr Jonathan, is a non-partisan, home-grown platform comprising former Heads of State and elder statesmen and girls from West Africa. It goals to mediate conflicts, resolve election-related points, and help democracy, peace, and safety within the area.

In accordance with Ms. Ann Iyonu, head of the WAEF secretariat, the Discussion board has successfully mediated peaceable elections in The Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and most not too long ago, Senegal since its institution in 2020.

“This aligns with our main goal of supporting West African nations of their efforts to strengthen their democracies,” she added.