The Commonwealth is deploying a 16-member Observer Group, led by former Botswana President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, to monitor Ghana’s general elections scheduled for December 7, 2024. The team, invited by Ghana’s Electoral Commission, will assess the electoral process as Ghanaians vote for a president and members of parliament.
Announcing the mission on November 21, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC expressed gratitude to the observers for their commitment to strengthening democratic processes. “This mission reflects our dedication to impartial assessments that build public trust and promote civic participation, aligned with the Commonwealth Charter’s principles of free and fair elections,” she noted.
The observer group will examine pre-election preparations, polling activities, vote counting, and the overall electoral environment. Their mandate includes evaluating whether the elections adhere to Ghana’s domestic laws and international standards. Any recommendations for improving Ghana’s electoral framework will be included in their final report.
The delegation is set to arrive in Ghana on November 29 and will remain until December 13, supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Abiola Sunmonu, Head of the Africa Section.
Observer Group Members
The group comprises experts from across the Commonwealth, including electoral officers, former diplomats, judges, and gender advocates:
- Chairperson: Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, former President of Botswana.
- Members include:
- Prof. Matthew Neuhaus, Australia
- Prof. Dorothy Njeuma, Cameroon
- Samboujang Njie, Gambia
- Lady Avril Trotman-Joseph, Grenada
- Justice Amraphael Msagha, Kenya
- Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Kenya
- Dr. Khabele Matlosa, Lesotho
- Grace Jerry, Nigeria
- Kim Allen, Papua New Guinea
- Jacqueline Muhongayire, Rwanda
- Dr. Fatmatta Taqi, Sierra Leone
- Janet Love, South Africa
- Deepanjalie Abeywardana, Sri Lanka
- Paul O’Grady, United Kingdom
- Maureen Nkandu, Zambia
