The Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, in collaboration with the National Peace Council of Ghana, is holding an interactive training workshop with political actors and stakeholders in Ghana from 4 to 11 September 2024.
The workshop aims to create an opportunity for stakeholders to take cognizance of and appreciate the ECOWAS Constitutional Convergence Principles (as provided in the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance) and other frameworks for transparent and peaceful conduct of elections. In addition, the engagement offers the opportunity to reiterate the commitments of ECOWAS and the National Peace Council to the processes of dialogue and mediation in resolving electoral disputes.
The workshop also aims to provide a platform for structured and multistakeholder dialogue between representatives of political parties, security agencies, the Electoral Commission (EC), and CSOs on issues relating to the organization and conduct of the forthcoming 7 December 2024 general elections. It offers attendees practical techniques and skills for dialogue and mediation as important tools for managing electoral disputes through group discussions, role-play simulation exercises, and plenary discussions.
Welcoming participants to the workshop, Ambassador (Dr.) Abdel-Fatau Musah, represented by Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance, reaffirmed ECOWAS's commitment to promoting dialogue as a critical tool for managing stakeholders’ expectations around electoral processes. In a goodwill message, Ms. Florence Mensah from the Electoral Commission of Ghana commended ECOWAS and the National Peace Council for their partnership and timeliness in organizing this workshop. She noted that "the readiness of the Electoral Commission to organize free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive elections."
The workshop was declared open by Mr. George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council who expressed gratitude towards ECOWAS Commission for initiating this proactive activity aimed at enhancing stakeholders' capacity for free, fair, credible, and transparent elections.
Participants include representatives from various sectors such as political parties, security agencies; civil society organizations including youth and women groups; religious bodies like Christian Council; Office of National Chief Imam; National House Chiefs; media that play key roles in preventing election-related disputes.
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