Election observers must exhibit integrity — Major-General Gyane

THE Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Major-General Richard Addo Gyane, has urged election observers to exhibit integrity and objectivity since  their observations would be vital in ensuring that the voices of electorates were heard and respected. 

He said it was important that they did not distort information they garner on election day but remain objective in their gathering and reportage.

He, therefore, urged them to be impartial and objective in the discharge of their duties for a peaceful and credible election.

Training

Major-General Gyane, who made the call at the opening of a three-day election observation course for selected women and youth in Tamale last Tuesday, said election observers played a critical role in detecting and preventing electoral fraud such as ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and vote–buying.

It is being organised by the Women, Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in collaboration with the Women Situation Room Project Consortium with funding support from the Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA).

It seeks to build the capacity of selected election observers to effectively observe the upcoming general election.

The training will empower women and youth as election observers to contribute to a more transparent, inclusive and peaceful electoral process.

Effective monitoring 

Major-General Gyane said the initiative was geared towards equipping participants with the requisite skills to effectively monitor the electoral process to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness.

Additionally, he said it would expose them to the intricacies of election observation, the importance of impartiality and the critical role they play in preventing electoral violence.

Module

For his part, a facilitator for the training, Dr Victor Doke, explained that the training would cover critical areas of electoral observation such as the dos and don'ts of election observation, reporting and engagement mechanisms.

He urged the participants to effectively participate in the training to enable them to play their roles effectively during the election.