AU, ECOWAS joint mission task Ghanaian authorities on violence free polls

By Vincent Ikuomola Abuja

The African Union and Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) joint mission has tasked the Ghanaian authorities on the need to ensure violence free election.

Besides, the joint mission also urged the Electoral Commission to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

Ghana will be going to the polls to elect their leaders on December 7, 2020.

The joint mission which was led by Jean Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission was in Ghana between 15th and 17th November 2020 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 Ghananian electoral Commission on the level of preparedness towards the elections.

The joint Mission urged the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure violence free elections, and expressed satisfaction on the passing of the vigilantism and related offence Act, 2019, by the parliament of Ghana, and the signing of the code of conduct on the eradication of political vigilantism in Ghana, under the auspices of the national peace council.

“In this regard, the joint mission commended the authorities for the security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful conduct of Lee tions, and further encouraged all stakeholders to resort to the use of dialogue as a mechanism to addressing all difference and disputes on issues relating to the elections.”

The joint mission also charged the electoral body to work towards the conduct of of credible, free, fair and transparent elections.

It urged the electoral commission to continue working closely with all stakeholders for an inclusive process, whilst ensuring that adequate measures are put in place for strict adherence to the protocols on the COVID-19 pandemic during the elections.