7 January 2016 - As part of the Kofi Annan Foundation's Electoral Integrity Initiative’s (EII) efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections, two senior experts are in Accra to consult and share experiences with the country’s election stakeholders.

Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chair of Nigeria's Election Commission (INEC), who steered his country’s historic 2015 electoral process, and Dr. Patrick Merloe, Director of Electoral Integrity Programmes at the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), are visiting Ghana's Election Commission as well as political party and civil society leaders from 6-7 January.

"Our visit is an indication of the early and keen interest of the international community in seeing credible, peaceful elections in Ghana this year," said Patrick Merloe. "The warm welcome given to us by Election Commission of Ghana and other stakeholders is reassuring."  

"We have noted the political polarisation in Ghana," said Professor Jega, "and we encourage all stakeholders to work together to ensure electoral integrity. Peaceful, credible elections are the responsibility of all, and not only of the Electoral Commission. Candidates, political parties and civil society all have a role to play.”

Although Ghana has established a distinguished electoral track record since the return to multi-party democracy, each election has seen tensions flare and accusations of electoral malpractice fly.

The EII will be encouraging others in the international community to pay close attention to Ghana's 2016 elections and to offer continuing support.      

The EII was born of the conclusions of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy & Security’s report, Deepening Democracy, chaired by Mr. Annan. It is an informal group under the auspices of the Kofi Annan Foundation of high-level election experts and former statespersons which aims to reinforce the credibility of elections with a view to ensuring the full benefits of democracy, which include peace and security, inclusive development and the respect of human rights and the rule of law.

For further information on the EII mission to Ghana, contact Araba Arhin (+233 20 811 53 03 or +233 261 429 115). For further information on the EII, please contact Sébastien Brack (+ 41 22 919 7553 or +41 79 920 2183 or [email protected])