CODEO

CODEO PRESS STATEMENT ON AKWATIA RE-RUN ELECTION OF TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2009

Introduction
The Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) is pleased to issue this statement on its observation of the recently held re-run elections in six polling stations of the Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern region.
The 2008 Parliamentary election in the Akwatia constituency was suspended in six polling stations following an outbreak of violence in which ballot boxes in these stations were tampered with by an irate gang of party supporters. This made it impossible for the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare the final parliamentary results for the Akwatia Constituency. After a lengthy court process between the EC and the two main political parti es, the Supreme Court, in July 2009, directed the EC to re-run pols in the affected polling stations in the constituency. The EC set August 18, 2009 as the date for the rerun pols.

The campaigns
Though concluded and results declared in favor of the NPP candidate the electoral process before and during election-day had been continually fraught with tension and violence. CODEO’s one week observation of the pre-election campaigns reported house-to-house campaigns by the two main candidates of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress amidst palpable hostility between the two camps of supporters. According to CODEO observers, the crack of gun shots was frequently heard from various quarters.

Two days before election-day when the two parties had planned to hold their final rallies, supporters of the rival candidates had been locked in a bloody clash in the centre of town where their party offices are located. Government intervened by imposing a dusk to dawn curfew and deploying police and military personnel to
keep peace and order in the municipality.

Election-Day Processes
CODED deployed observers to all six polling stations. The reports complied from their checklist indicated that the Electoral Commission preparations for the polls were adequate. Polls opened promptly at 7.00am in all the polling stations and the requisite voting materials were adequately provided everywhere. EC district
officers were strategically imported from other districts to play the role of presiding officers at the polling stations for fear that local recruits might either be susceptible to compromise or risk being attacked.

Election-Day Incidents
Tight as the security was, party thugs were still able to foment trouble. A group of people were arrested bringing weapons into one of the polling stations shortly after the start of polling. Open fights broke out where rival party agents perceived infiltrations. Party polling agents intimidated polling staff into allowing unqualified persons to vote. Some highly-placed party executives were openly harassed and disallowed from visiting some of the polling stations. Noisy confrontations between rival party activists were the order of the day in all the polling stations. A number of persons were caught attempting to vote more than once or
impersonating other voters. Most prevalent was the use of fake voters’ cards. Many voters had gone to the stations with their official 10 cards to vote only to discover that other persons had fraudulently used fake IDs to vote in their names already. A couple of voters were also arrested intending to stuff the ballot boxes
with several pre-marked ballot papers. Indeed some voters succeeded in introducing a number of fake ballot papers into the ballot box in two of the polling stations.

Election-Day security
Scores of armed and unarmed security personnel were deployed at the polling stations and also in patrol teams. At each of the polling stations no less than 30 security agents took positions at various angles to protect the process. Though taunted and harassed at times, the men in uniform were firm in dealing with
disorderly behavior. They were, however, also criticized for not dealing more decisively with wrong-doers they had arrested.

Conclusion
Propped by massive security on the ground the Electoral Commission was able to administer the election up to the counting and declaration of results. However the widespread harassment, intimidation and fraud observed by COOEO makes it difficult to conclude that the Akwatia re-run election sufficiently met the criteria for free and fair elections. The Akwatia re-run elections confirm once again the unrequited need for substantial improvements to be made in national and local level election security arrangements, especially around OISEC and REGSEC, the conduct of political party officials and their supporters and civic/voter education.
The Akwatia re-run polls provides sober lessons about the length the country needs to go to ensure that the 2010 polls don’t turn nightmarish.
You may ca ll John Larvie on 776142 or 0243714444 for further clarification .
Miranda Greenstreet
Co-Chairperson

Press Release Aketia. re-run, by election, rerun. ghana elections

CODEO CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN THE AKWATIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Coalition of Domestic Election Observers

Monday, 17lh AUGUST,2009

CODEO Press Statement

CODEO CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN THE AKWATIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is demanding maximum

restraint from the supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and

the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Akwatia constituency mini election.

Reports reaching CODEO from its field observers indicate that the campaign

activities of supporters of the two political parties in the Akwatia Constituency

degenerated into violence over the weekend.

We are pleased that the security forces intervened to avert further

deterioration and that a dawn to dusk curfew has been imposed on the

Akwatia municipality ahead of the Tuesday 18tl! August mini-poll in six polling

stations in the Constituency. Nonetheless, CODEO cautions against

unnecessary show of force which might intimidate voters and provoke disputes

over the results of the election.

CODEO appeals to the leadership of the two political parties and their

respective candidates in the election to restrain their supporters from violent

behavior and fully comply with the provisions of the Electoral Commission’s

guidelines on campaign activities. CODEO appeals to the political parties and

indeed to all Ghanaians to give peace a chance in the Akwatia election.

You may call John Larvie on 776142 or 0243714444 for further clarification.

Prof. Miranda Greenstreet

CO-CHAIRPERSON

Press Release 2009 elections, akwetia elections, CDD election, election rerun, Ghana election, NDC, NPP

CODEO OBSERVATION OF THE RESCHEDULED TAIN RUN-OFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON JANUARY 2, 2008 Interim Final Report

Introduction

As promised in its preliminary statement on the conduct of the presidential run-off election held on Sunday, December 28, 2008, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) observed the rescheduled poll in the Tain Constituency on January 2, 2009. Given the significance of the poll, CODEO deployed observers to all 144 polling stations. One member of CODEO’s Advisory Board also observed the polls. Reports were received throughout the day from 143 of them. CODEO issued a situational statement on the day of polling at 3:30pm focusing on the setting up and opening of polling stations. Polling day incidents and irregularities were also highlighted in the statement. This interim report captures CODEO observations of the Tain constituency polls up to the declaration of the results.

Summary of Observation

Overall, the Tain poll was well conducted and peaceful. This was a noteworthy achievement in the light of the heightened political tensions following the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to delay announcing final results of the presidential runoff election until voting in the Tain Constituency. Reports from CODEO observers showed low voter turnout and this was attributed to the NPP’s decision on January 1 to boycott the Tain poll.

Setting Up and Opening of Polling Stations

• Reports from observers indicated that 98 of 143 (69 percent) polling stations opened late. By 9:00 am, 134 polling stations had opened, and the 143 polling stations observed and reported by CODEO eventually opened.

• The secrecy of the balloting process was protected in all polling stations observed and reported on by CODEO’s observers, and the ballot boxes were empty before being sealed.

• NDC polling agents were at 141 of 143 polling stations, and one NPP agent was present for the opening of a polling station but did not remain to observe voting.

• There were no missing materials at 128 of 143 polling stations, though the delayed arrival of materials was a factor in the late opening of most polling stations reported above. Poll books lost in the fire that destroyed the Electoral Commission office in Tain after the December 7 elections were not available at any polling station, but this appeared to only affect a small number of voters who did not have their voter ID cards.

Voting Process

• At 127 of 143 polling stations, no voters in possession of voter ID cards were turned away from polling stations.

• Voters’ fingers were inked in 138 of 143 polling stations.

• Names were checked in the voter registry in 138 of 143 polling stations before voters were allowed to cast their ballots.

Counting and Collation of Votes

• CODEO observers reported that the correct number of ballots papers was found in the ballot box in 139 of 143 polling stations.

• Observers agreed with the announced vote count in 140 of 143 polling stations.

Incidents and Irregularities

• There were very few incidents reported by CODEO observers, including some NDC polling agents attempting to interfere in the polling process at some polling stations. None of them were serious enough to affect the outcome of the poll.

Conclusion

Given the mounting tensions in the country following the December 28 election and the decision to reschedule the presidential run-off in the Tain Constituency, CODEO commends the Electoral Commission for the transparent and professional manner in which it conducted the poll. CODEO also commends Ghana’s security forces for keeping the peace and ensuring calm during this difficult period.

All Ghanaians should take pride in the 2008 electoral process, which demonstrated that the country’s democratic process is strong enough to withstand the challenges and high stakes of a closely contested election.

CODEO will issue a comprehensive report on its observation of the 2008 elections in early 2009, which will contain recommendations for strengthening the electoral process in advance of future elections.

CODEO is grateful to the British High Commission for supporting CODEO’s observation exercise in the Tain constituency at such short notice.

Issued by CODEO Secretariat

January 6 2009

Press Release CODEO, final, Ghana elections, Tain

TAIN CONSTITUENCY RE-SCHEDULED RUN-OFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: CODEO POLLING DAY OBSERVATION: SITUATIONAL STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

As indicated in the preliminary statement on the conduct of the presidential election run-off held on Sunday, December 28 2008 and issued at the International Press Center on Wednesday, 31 December 2008, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is observing the rescheduled Tain Constituency polls. Given the high stakes associated with the Tain election, CODEO deployed 144 observers to all the polling stations in the Tain constituency. These included the 7 Rapid Response Observers (RROs) assigned to polling stations randomly selected for the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), Regular Observers (ROs), Regional Coordinators (RCs) and Constituency Supervisors (CSs). A member of CODEO Advisory Board is also observing the polls. This situational statement focuses on the setting up and opening of polling stations and is based on reports received from 84 out of the 144 RROs, ROs, RCs, CSs and roving observers as of 2:00pm today.

SETTING UP AND OPENING OF POLLING STATIONS

• Reports received from our observers indicate that, in general, voting is proceeding peacefully and smoothly in the constituency and CODEO observers have been permitted by polling officials to observer the polls.

• Thirty-eight percent of our observers reported that polling officials arrived after 6:00am. Also, there were reports of widespread late arrival of election materials. This was explained away by EC officials as due to the fact that election materials had to be kept in Sunyani and transported early in the morning to Tain. It will be recalled that the EC office in Tain was burnt down after the December 7 elections. This accounted for the delayed opening of polling stations as reported by 67% of CODEO observers.

• Polling stations, according to our observers (99%) were setup in a manner to ensure secrecy of ballot and accessibility to persons with disability and the aged. Besides, all our observers reported that ballot boxes were shown to be empty and sealed.

• Ninety-nine percent of CODEO observers reported that there were uniform security personnel in polling stations. According to them, on average, each polling station has about five security personnel comprising military and police personnel. It is also worthy of note that there is significant level of security patrols by mobile security teams.

• NDC polling agents are reported by 97% of our observers to be present at polling stations. In contrast, NPP had one agent at Roman Catholic JSS, Banda Ahenkro earlier in the day who left after awhile.
• Reports received from our observers generally suggest low voter turnout. Coupled with this is the fact that the competitive spirit expected to characterize the election is simply not there because NPP supporters have boycotted the election.

INCIDENTS AND IRREGULARITIES

Incidents and irregularities reported at polling stations by CODEO observers included the following:

• Missing poll books and ID checklist at all polling stations which according to EC officials were destroyed in the fire that burnt down the Tain EC office. Voters without ID cards but with receipt from EC as proof of eligibility who cannot identify their names in the voter register are being turned away. Such cases have been reported at the Nsawkaw Health Center and LA Primary in Degege polling stations.

• Some NDC polling agents are getting involved in the poll processes by verifying particulars of voters’ ID cards particularly in Abekwai No. 3 LA Primary, RC Upper Primary in Njau and RC primary School, Tanoso polling stations. Unfortunately, some presiding officers have not been able to restrain them from this conduct.

• CODEO observers reported seeing buses loaded with NPP supporters entering the Tain constituency. They have been chanting “no Volta, no vote” and moving around the constituency. As at the time of this report there has not been any report of any clashes or confrontation. The mobile security teams have also stepped up patrol and the buses with NPP supporters are now less visible.

CONCLUSION

The coalition is continuing to receive reports from its network of observers. However, it is worried that tension may rise leading to clashes, especially with the increasing chanting of “no Volta, no vote” by buses full of NPP supporters in the constituency. CODEO will continue its observations through to the end of voting, counting of ballots and the collating of results. CODEO will issue another statement if necessary.

The coalition appeals to the leadership, more especially supporters of the two political parties to exercise much restraint to avoid creating chaotic conditions that could lead to violence. It is hoped that the uncertainties surrounding the declaration of results will soon be resolved.

We also appeal strongly to the media to use their medium to calm tension in the country.

CODEO finally appeals to all Ghanaians to remain calm and be law abiding.

Signed:

Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe,

Joint Chairpersons

(For and on Behalf of the Advisory Board)

CODEO Secretariat, Friday, 02 January 2009; 3:30 pm

For more information, please contact any of the following telephone numbers: 0243387094; 0244692301; 0243661350; 0244665065

Press Release Tain Rescheduled Presidential Run-off Situational Statement

CODEO Calls for Calm

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has noted with concern the mounting tensions and vitriolic utterances while we are waiting for the final results of the December 28 run-off elections to be declared by the Electoral Commission.

CODEO calls on the EC to continue to be transparent in collating, certifying and announcing the results.  While anxiously waiting for the EC results, CODEO calls on the leaders of the two contending parties – the NDC and the NPP – to show leadership and to prevail on their supporters to remain calm.

Given the highly competitive nature of this election and the projected closeness of the race, the Electoral Commission needs to verify the accuracy of results. For the Electoral Commission to complete this task effectively and fairly, the parties must refrain from inflammatory statements that could undermine the electoral process.

We especially plead with supporters of the political parties who are gathered at the premises of the Electoral Commission and elsewhere to go home peacefully.

We call on all Ghanaians to continue to place confidence in the Electoral Commission and to allow the processes of the electoral system to function.

CODEO also encourages the two presidential candidates and their respective political parties to accept the official results. We call on the candidate who loses the election to gracefully concede defeat, and the victorious candidate to be magnanimous.

The president-elect, when sworn in, will be president of all Ghanaians during the coming four years and must therefore move quickly beyond the partisan politics of the electoral process to earn the support of all Ghanaians.

Finally, CODEO appeals to all Ghanaians to remain calm as the nation prepares for yet another transition.

Signed:

Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe,

Joint Chairpersons

(For and on Behalf of the Advisory Board)

CODEO Secretariat, Tuesday, December 30 2008, 2:30pm

 

Press Release CODEO, elections 08, Ghana election, press, Press Release, press statement, run off

CODEO Projects Very Close Election and Calls on All Parties to Remain Calm

1) CODEO observers reported a higher number of problems and lapses in the December 28 runoff election than the presidential and general elections of December 7. Two main factors account for that: the extremely high stakes nature of the presidential runoff election in which only one party could win; and the short time available for the Electoral Commission to organize the second round.

 

2) CODEO has analyzed information from the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) exercise gathered by its rapid response observers (RROs). Data from its representative random sample of more than 1,000 polling stations from 229 constituencies indicate that the election results are extremely close and the results are likely to be decided by less than a percentage point.

 

As with the presidential and general elections of December 7, CODEO observers reported many lapses in the voting process in the presidential runoff election of December 28,  including setting up and opening of polling stations, voting and vote counting.  However, the problems reported by CODEO observers do not fundamentally undermine the integrity of the overall process.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3) To ensure that all Ghanaians are able to exercise their right to vote and the results of the presidential election reflect the will of the people, the Electoral Commission must immediately conduct elections at all the polling stations in the Tain constituency in Brong Ahafo where voting did not take place on 28 December. Ideally, this must occur before the EC officially announces the results-since the country as a whole is one constituency for the presidential election.

 

4) The Electoral Commission must swiftly and decisively resolve the concerns raised by political contestants concerning the conduct of the presidential runoff election. Any recounts or re-collations should be conducted without delay.

 

5) CODEO calls upon the Electoral Commission to do its best to issue polling station results along with the overall results to ensure that the official results of this highly competitive election are accepted by all parties, their supporters as well as the general public. While the Electoral Commission is not required to take such a step, the release of polling stations results would significantly reduce post election tensions while reinforcing confidence in the Electoral Commission’s impartiality.

 

6) We call on Ghanaians, including leaders of political parties and their supporters, to continue to place confidence in the Electoral Commission.

 

7) Above all, we encourage the two presidential candidates and their respective political parties to accept the official results. We encourage the victors to be magnanimous. The president-elect when sworn in will be president of all Ghanaians during the coming four years and must therefore move quickly beyond the partisan politics of the electoral cycle to earn the support of all Ghanaians.

 

 

 

Signed:

Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe,

Joint Chairpersons

(For and on Behalf of the Advisory Board)

CODEO Secretariat, Sunday, December 29 2008, 1:30pm

 

For more information, please contact any of the following telephone numbers: 0243387094; 0244692301; 0243661350; 0244665065

Press Release, Uncategorized CODEO press, CODEO Statement., election 08, Ghana, NDC, NPP, Press Release, release statment, run off, run-off voting in Ghana., runoff, Second round, second round voting in Ghana, Voting in Ghana

CODEO’S STATEMENT ON THE OFFICIAL 2008 PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS

As part of its overall effort to observe the 2008 elections, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) conducted a Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) to help objectively and scientifically verify the accuracy of the result of the presidential election and to ensure that the official results announced by the Electoral Commission truly reflect the will of the Ghanaian people. The PVT is an advanced methodology used to monitor elections. It has been used successfully around the world to promote electoral integrity and help defend the rights of citizens to vote. The first PVT was conducted in the Philippines in 1986. In Africa, the PVT methodology has been successfully used in Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

Full Statement

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CODEO Presents Preliminary Findings on 2008 Election

CODEO released its preliminary findings of its observation of the 2008 Elections. These findings reflect the reports filed by 99% of CODEO’s 1070 Rapid Response observers, as well as observation reports and incidents filed by over 3000 Regular Observers, Constituency Supervisors and Regional Coordinators.

CODEO is in a position to conclude that, in spite of the difficulties encountered in the pre-election period and on election day (including the minor voting irregularities), the conduct of the 2008 elections up to the end of voting and counting of votes has generally been peaceful, free, fair and transparent…

Download the Statement

For more information contact:

Theodore Dzeble
CODEO Public Affairs Coordinator
+233 (0)244215736
press@codeogh.org

Accra, Ghana, 8 December 2008

Press Release 2008, CODEO, election, Ghana, preliminary findings

CODEO, Election 2008 Ghana: End Of Day Situational Statement

Ghana’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections held on Sunday, December 7 2008 CODEO Polling Day Observation: Situational (End of Voting) Report Released on Sunday, December 7 2008 at 9:00pm.

Full Statement

 

Press Release 2008, Add new tag, CODEO, Ghana, Situational

CODEO, Election 2008 Ghana: Mid-Day Situational Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Theodore Dzeble
CODEO Public Affairs Coordinator
+233 (0)244215736
press@codeogh.org

Accra, Ghana, 7 December 2008

CODEO Polling Day Observation: Situational (Mid-Day) Report

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) had deployed approximately 4,000 non-partisan local observers throughout the country. This mid-day situational report is based on reports CODEO had received from Rapid Response Reporters located at nearly 1,000 polling stations in all of Ghana’s 230 constituencies. These observers are deployed  to a representative random sample of polling stations across the country.

At the time of set up (opening), reports from observers suggest relatively few problems at the polling stations.

Nearly all polling stations were set up so that voters could mark their ballots in secret; were accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly; and ballot boxes were shown to be empty, sealed and placed in public view.

At the time of set-up, some polling stations lacked uniformed security personnel.  One in ten polling stations nationally reported no uniformed security personnel during set-up.

NDC and NPP had polling agents at nearly every polling station at the time of open. CPP had polling agents at approximately half of the polling stations. All the other presidential candidates were able to field polling agents at some polling stations.

Seventeen rapid response observers reported initially being denied access to polling stations despite being accredited. However, ultimately all rapid response observers were permitted to observe.

A vast majority of polling stations reported having all of the materials.

Nearly a third of polling stations reported opening late. This problem was more prevalent in Upper East region.

While the elections appear to have been generally peaceful so far, reports have been received from a few polling stations at which there was violence or disturbances. CODEO has informed both the Electoral Commission and the Police of these incidents.

CODEO is continuing to receive reports from its network of nationally deployed observers and will continue to release updated reports.

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Press Release 2008, CODEO, election, Ghana, mid-day