Thabo Mbeki Leads Commonwealth Election Observer Team To Ghana
The former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will arrive in Ghana as the head of a team of Commonwealth observers to Ghana for presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2016.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland appointed the Commonwealth Observer Group following an invitation to the Commonwealth Secretariat from the country's independent electoral commission.
Since 1980, the Commonwealth has observed more than 140 elections in 36 countries.
Commonwealth observers have contributed to the entrenchment of democratic practices globally by offering recommendations for practical action.
Commonwealth elections observers give voters confidence that an independent, impartial and public view will be taken on the integrity of an electoral process.
On November 26, 2016, a Joint Statement was issued by the ECOWAS- COMMONWEALTH- UNITED NATIONS in Accra on candidates agreement to Peaceful Elections.
Ghanaians will on December 7, 2016 elect a new President and 275 Members of Parliament.
Seven candidates are contesting in this year’s presidential elections.
They are Lawyer Ivor Kobina Greestreet of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Dr. Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC), the incumbent President John Dramani Mahama who is seeking a second four-year term in office, Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) who is making his third attempt at the presidency.
Others are Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), who is also making his fifth attempt at the Presidency and independent candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah (JOY).
GBC