EC prepared for December elections — ECOWAS group

The Chairman of the West Africa Elders Forum (a high diplomatic election observer group), former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, has stated that the Electoral Commission (EC) has shown that it is competent and prepared to conduct the December 7 elections. 

He said the EC had depicted through its interactions that it was fully prepared and ready to deliver a free, fair and transparent election.

Mr Jonathan stated this after leading members of the forum to interact with the EC.

Another group, the West Africa Election Observers Network, led by its chairman, Rev.  James Lahai, who also doubles as the National Coordinator for National Election Watch in Sierra Leone, also paid a courtesy call on the EC.

Responses

Mr Jonathan said when the forum, made up of former Presidents and Prime Ministers of West African states, put forward concerns by some stakeholders, the EC gave very satisfactory responses to the issues.

He said the responses by the EC demonstrated its readiness to conduct a peaceful and successful elections on December 7, 2024.

“We had a robust discussion with the EC.  We’ve seen the passion they have; the commitment they have, for conducting successful elections, and what they have done so far, it is key.

“We had interactions with a number of people before coming here, and all the issues they raised which we put across to her; she’s explained perfectly. And we have no iota of doubt about the competence and the willingness for the Commission to do what is right, come the December Elections,” he stated.

Mr Jonathan also called on other stakeholders and Ghanaians to ensure that they maintained their status as a beacon of democracy to make West Africa and the continent at large proud. 

Network

For his part, Rev.  Lahai said the commission had demonstrated that it was open for discussion that would inure to the conduct of a free, fair and transparent elections.  

He indicated that the visit and engagement with the EC had been very fruitful, reiterating that the commission had explained some key issues that had been a matter of concern to some of the players in the December elections.

Rev. Lahai added that the West African Election Observers Network would continue its fact-finding mission with other key stakeholders in the elections, and had yesterday engaged the media to release their findings after their visit to all the stakeholders.

EC chair

Speaking to the media later, the EC Chairperson, Jean Adukwei Mensa, underscored the rationale of the engagement with the group.

“This evening we've had the opportunity to meet and interact with the West Africa Election Observers Network and the West Africa Elders Forum.”

“While we have shared with them our experiences and preparedness for the elections on December 7, 2024, they also shared with us some of their ideas, some of their experiences, some of the best practices from their own countries,” she said.  

Mrs Mensa stated that the commission also informed the two groups about the election process and addressed concerns that they raised over the electoral process to ensure that the commission was on top of issues to deliver a credible, free and fair elections.