AU, ECOWAS joint mission advises Ghana on violence-free polls
From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
THE African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) joint mission has advised the Ghanaian authorities to ensure violence-free election.
Besides, the joint mission also urged the country’s electoral commission to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Ghana will be going to the polls to elect their leaders on December 7.
The joint mission, which was led by Jean Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, was in Ghana between November 15 and 17, in line with the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on the principles governing democratic elections in Africa.
The mission, according to the statement issued by the ECOWAS Commission, took note of the progress and assurances by the Ghanaian electoral commission on the level of preparedness towards the elections.
“In this regard, the joint mission commended the authorities for the security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful conduct of election, and further encouraged all stakeholders to resort to the use of dialogue,” the mission said.
The joint mission also urged the electoral body to work towards the conduct of credible, free, fair and transparent elections.
It urged the electoral commission to keep working closely with stakeholders for an inclusive process, while ensuring that adequate measures are put in place for strict adherence to the protocols on the COVID-19 pandemic during the elections.