PRESS STATEMENT ON THE EVE OF THE DECEMBER 7, 2012 GENERAL ELECTIONS, DELIVERED AT THE KOFI ANNAN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING

TRAINING CENTER Salutation Our friends in the Media, Representatives of the Diplomatic/Donor Missions Representatives of International Observer Groups Members of Local Civil Society Organizations Representatives of political parties, Ladies and Gentlemen.., On behalf of the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), I welcome you all to this press conference ahead of the December 7 general elections. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have invited you to this briefing to share with you our preparations to deploy approximately 4500 of our members to all the 275 constituencies in the ten regions of Ghana. About CODEO and Election Observation in Ghana The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) was formed in May 2000 under the auspices of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDDGhana). The primary objective of CODEO is to help promote free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana. Since its formation in 2000, CODEO has become a platform for citizens and groups to participate in the Ghanaian democratic process. CODEO is a member of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM). With twenty-two founding civic, secular, religious and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), CODEO currently comprises 40 organizations. The Coalition, which has two co-chairs, is managed by a fifteenmember Advisory Board. CODEO has recruited, trained and deployed its members to observe all general elections, local government elections and by-elections. In the year 2008, for example, CODEO deployed about 4000 observers nationwide. The same number was deployed for the presidential run-off elections that took place on December 28, 2008.

Election 2012: CODEOs Pre-Election Support Activities Ladies and Gentlemen, ahead of the December 7 elections, CODEO launched its comprehensive election 2012 support program in March under the theme: Ghanas Election 2012: Civil Society Intervention Toward Peaceful and Credible Elections. The planned programs included the observation of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), the long-term pre-election observation, election day, and postelection observation. Subsequently, from March to May, CODEO, with support from the United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DfID), trained and deployed more than 600 volunteers to BVR registration centers across the country to observe all the stages of the BVR exercise. CODEO released its final statement on the BVR observation exercise on November 27, 2012. The Coalition also trained and deployed 50 pre-election field observers to 100 districts in more than 100 constituencies throughout the ten regions of Ghana to observe the pre-election environment. This was made possible by the kind support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These CODEO field observers filed regular reports on the activities and programs of election stakeholders in the various constituencies to the CODEO secretariat. CODEO shared the field reports from its pre-election observers with the public through the media on a monthly basis. CODEO released a total of six monthly preelection observation reports. We are gratified to note that the monthly CODEO reports on the pre-election environment attracted the attention of and reactions from major election stakeholders, notably the Electoral Commission, the political parties and the Ghana Police Service. In addition to the above programs, CODEO partnered with the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) to organize public fora for parliamentary candidates in thirty (30) selected constituencies countrywide. The parliamentary candidates fora provided opportunities for candidates to share their vision for addressing crucial social and economic problems facing their respective constituencies, with special emphasis on issues such as the marginalization of persons with disability, youth unemployment, women and gender empowerment to mention just a few. CODEO and CDD-Ghana also trained and deployed 40 volunteers to monitor conflict/potential conflict in 40 selected constituencies identified as prone to election-related violence. These monitors filed weekly reports and their findings were shared privately with the security agencies and where appropriate with the public. The parliamentary candidates fora and the election conflict monitoring exercise were funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
2

Election Day Observation Programs CODEOs preparations for election-day field observation, including the deployment of Rapid Response Observers (RROs) and Roaming Observers (ROs) commenced with a three-day national training-of-trainers workshop in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region from November 2 to 4, 2012 for 30 Regional Coordinators (RCs). This was followed by ten (10) regional training sessions for CODEOs constituency supervisors (CS) between November 16 and 17. The CODEO Regional Coordinators trained a total of 280 Constituency Supervisors. The final phase of the recruitment and training of the bulk of CODEO Observers took place simultaneously in all the 275 constituencies between November 28 and 30, 2012. CODEO has put an effective system in place to ensure that its observers are properly recruited to undertake its observation project. All trained CODEO observers were recruited from member organizations and cautious steps were taken to ensure that recruited members were strictly non-partisan and professional. At each level of the training, CODEO observers were taken through the legal framework for elections, code of conduct for observers, and what to observe at the polling stations. Simulation exercises were also conducted to enable observers go through the observation process ahead of election day and also complete the observers checklist and critical incidents report forms. CODEO appreciates the support and collaboration it has received from the Electoral Commission in training its observers. As a member of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), CODEO subscribes to the Declaration of Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations. Accordingly, each CODEO observer was made to sign a pledge of neutrality and non-partisanship, which has been documented. We are pleased to inform Ghanaians and the international community that on Friday, December 7, 2012, CODEO will deploy close to 4000 Rapid Response Observers (RROs) to a representative sample of polling stations throughout the country to observe the polling from set-up, casting of votes and counting of votes to the collation of results. Additional close to 500 CODEO volunteers will serve as roaming observers on Election Day. At this point, we are confident that our observers have been given the best of training. They have been duly accredited by the Electoral Commission to undertake this important national assignment - with competence and integrity. Deployment CODEO observers will be deployed to all the 275 constituencies in Ghana. They will observe the polling station and process set-up, voting and counting procedures, and also file reports on any incidents they observe throughout the day. CODEO observers will also be posted to constituency collation centers in all the 275
3

constituencies. All CODEO polling station observers will wear white T-shirts boldly embossed at the back with CODEOs name, and CODEO caps. And they will be carrying CODEO embossed bags. CODEO volunteers will report at the polling stations at 6:00am and stay until the end of official declaration of the ballot count either at the polling station or at the constituency collation center, as the case may be. CODEO PVT Exercise Ladies and Gentlemen, CODEO will be employing the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology as part of its election observation activities on December 7, 2012, just as it had successfully done in 2008. The Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) is an advanced observation methodology that builds on the conventional election observation method. It involves deploying trained and accredited non-partisan observers to a nationally representative sample of polling stations. Using timetested statistical principles, the methodology will allow CODEO to provide the most comprehensive and accurate account of the voting and counting process as well as the quality of the process across the country. The PVT methodology will enable CODEO to independently verify the accuracy of the tabulation process and the official presidential results declared by the EC. As part of the methodology for the PVT sampling and deployment, CODEO RROs will be deployed to maintain visibility in every constituency, including the remotest parts of Ghana, generally referred to as overseas. CODEO has oversampled constituencies and electoral areas in four regions (Ashanti, Volta, Central and Western) in the 2012 polls, meaning that CODEO observer presence in these regions will be more prominent. Reporting CODEO observers will provide information to the CODEO Observation Center at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) in Accra from where CODEO will be issuing regular statements on the election process. A system of reporting has been devised by CODEO to enable observers to rapidly transmit their observation reports at designated time periods to the CODEO Observation Center. Observers will transmit via mobile phone text messages/SMS in the course of the election-day. This system of reporting will enable CODEO to quickly and thoroughly analyze the conduct of voting around the country. In addition, the oversampling in the Ashanti, Volta, Central and Western regions will allow CODEO to report comprehensively on these regions. A critical incident desk will be mounted at the CODEO Observation Center where reports about irregularities, disruptions, and other negative incidents in the voting process received from RROs will be quickly processed and, if verified as valid,
4

relayed to the Ghana Police Service, the Electoral Commission and other relevant state institutions for prompt redress. On the basis of observation findings and incidents filed by our observers, Constituency Supervisor, and the Regional Coordinators, CODEO will be in a position to issue three statements within 24 hours of the elections. CODEO will issue a mid-day situational statement at a press conference at 2:00pm on December 7, 2012. This will be followed by a press release after the close of polls on voting day. The Coalition will issue a preliminary statement on the conduct of the elections at 1:30pm on Saturday December 8, 2012 at KAIPTC. A final detailed report containing analysis of the pre-election environment, the electionday observations, as well as lessons learned and recommendations will be prepared and made available to stakeholders and the public at a later date. Post Election Observation CODEO will deploy 25 Field observers to 25 strategically selected constituencies throughout the country to observe post-election developments in those places. By extending the observation process beyond the December 7 polls, CODEO will be able to track the post-election environment, actions and inactions of political actors and public institutions. USAID Support CODEOs long-term pre-election environment observation, election-day and postelection observation project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The December 7 Polls and its Significance for Ghanas Democracy Ghanas December 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections will be the sixth since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992. Previous elections conducted under Ghanas 4th Republic have been acknowledged as progressively free, fair and transparent. Indeed, Ghana has made significant progress in developing a stable and highly competitive multi-party democracy. Ghanas Election 2012 offers an opportunity to further consolidate our democratic and electoral gains. There is therefore every reason for Ghanaians to sustain this path. The success of the polls will bolster Ghanas record as a democratic nation and thereby creating the enabling political environment for economic growth and prosperity for all Ghanaians. However, unlike previous elections, the 2012 elections present new challenges. The 2012 polls will mark for the first time the introduction and use of a Biometric Voter Register (BVR) and electronic voter verification in elections. The BVR and associated novel voting system (arguably the most comprehensive reform of the
5

electoral process in the last decade) holds the potential to further enhance the credibility of the Ghanaian electoral process. Nonetheless, a number of troubling and contentious challenges have emerged in the course of the last ten months of building the political consensus necessary for the successful implementation of the BVR exercise and during the electioneering campaign period. As reflected in previous CODEOs observations findings of the pre-election environment and recent events, the following are of concern to CODEO: The reported cases of suspected underage voters who still remain in the certified voters register poses a potential challenge to the peaceful outcome of the polls; The late registration of residents of Kassena Nankana district in the Upper East region is a matter of regret; The issue of alleged secret tapes which appear to reveal plans to destabilize the electoral process is a matter of security concern; The acrimonious partisan debates which focused on the creation of the 45 additional constituencies; The tensions and election-related violence which characterized the BVR exercise in a few areas of the country seemed to have resurfaced in Kumasi in the Ashanti region; The defacement of political party posters in the lead up to December 7; The delays on the part of the Police Service to fully investigate reported cases of violent acts during the BVR exercise; The reported cases of abuse of public resources for partisan electoral advantage ; and Increasing use of intemperate language in the media by political actors. Notwithstanding the deficits and challenges in the political and electioneering campaign period identified above, CODEOs overall assessment of the political and electoral environment leading to December 7 is generally positive. CODEO notes that the pre-election period has been relatively calm in spite of isolated incidents of election-related violence recorded during the year. While the biometric voter register may not be perfect, CODEO is broadly satisfied with the document and sees it as an improved voters register for the conduct of the December 7 polls. CODEO noted from its comprehensive BVR observation that majority of the Ghanaian voting public readily heeded the call to register. From the registrants experiential survey conducted as part of the observation exercise, CODEO found out that registered voters rated the BVR exercise as highly positive. CODEO therefore commends the Electoral Commission, the political parties and their candidates for cooperating to compile the BVR.

CODEO also notes with satisfaction, the increased attention the parties and candidates have given to policy and program prescriptions in the 2012 election campaign, even as they sometimes engaged in personality attacks and other negative campaigning. CODEO also notes with satisfaction the creative efforts of civil society groups and the media to promote issue-based campaigning, and the peacefulness and overall credibility of the 2012 polls. CODEO applauds the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for successfully organizing the presidential and vice presidential debates, the CDD-Ghana for organizing parliamentary candidates debates, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for monitoring the use of indecent language on the airwaves, and the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Early warning, among many other initiatives. CODEO would also like to mention the landmark forum organized in Kumasi by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), in collaboration with the National Peace Council (NPC) and the Asantehenes Office, at which the eight presidential candidates signed a pledge committing themselves to work towards peace before, during and after the December 7 elections. CODEO equally commends the Ghana Police Service and especially the Election Security Task Force for their cooperation with CODEO to promote election peacefulness and enhance the security of the 2012 polls. CODEO further acknowledges the civic and voter education efforts put up by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the lead up to the December 7 elections. Conclusion The main challenge facing the country in the December 7, 2012 elections is whether Ghana can hold another reasonably peaceful and transparent election, whose outcomes are considered credible and accepted by the main contestants. For CODEO, non-partisan citizen participation in the electoral process is vital for enhancing transparency, credibility and ownership of electoral outcomes, and thereby ensuring peaceful outcome. This is a task CODEO has set for itself since 2000, and is poised, once again, to undertake on December 7 2012 and beyond. It is true that the EC and Ghanaians have a good record of conducting credible and peaceful multi-party elections. But we all know that the Ghanaian electoral process remains fraught with challenges. It is important therefore that we beat or match our previous record of credible and peaceful elections in 2012.

National Appeal On this note, CODEO makes a special appeal to all contesting political leaders and their supporters to do all in their power to help maintain the peace in our country. CODEO reiterates its support to the call by the EC for minors to stay away from the polling station on election-day. CODEO further calls on all political parties to educate their supporters, and entreat them to discourage minors from voting on election day. Similarly, parents and guardians must advise their underage registered children and wards to desist from voting. CODEO appeals to the EC, polling officials, returning and presiding officers to be firm and apply the electoral rules in an impartial and objective manner. We ask all the polling agents to respect the parties code of conduct and behave responsibly on the polling day by assisting EC officials to execute their duties effectively and efficiently. We also urge Ghanaians and voters to conduct themselves properly on Election Day. To the security services, we urge you to approach your duties with maximum professionalism and utmost respect to the Constitution. We enjoin you to be nonpartisan and focus on the security of the ballot process and of all Ghanaians in a lawful manner. CODEO further appeals to the media to be circumspect in their coverage and reportage on the elections. It is important that the media platform, particularly the Radio, is not used to mobilize and instigate violence on Election Day and beyond. The role of the media is to provide accurate information and education to Ghanaians and we expect them to discharge this function in an objective and professional manner. For us in CODEO, we will do our part on election-day and hope that the presence of CODEO observers at polling stations will have moderating influence on key actors and help ensure electoral integrity. On behalf of the Advisory Board of CODEO, I wish to express gratitude and appreciation for the enthusiasm and dedication of the large number of Ghanaians who volunteered for the CODEO project. The 2012 election campaign has understood, once again, the extreme political polarization in Ghana, especially between the NDC and the NPP. As we go to the polls, and after the inauguration, it is absolutely important that political parties, their leaders and the entire political class take all necessary measures to bridge this gap. We need peace and unity for the sake of sustained development, good governance and socio-economic development.
8

Acknowledgements CODEO wishes to express appreciation to all supporters and development partners for its work, DfID, OSIWA and in particular the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has over the years remained an important partner. CODEO further recognizes the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) for its generous technical support for CODEOs election observation activities over the years. We also want to thank the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center for once again collaborating with us in this project. Finally, we urge all other local observers as well as international observers to support the polling exercise in an impartial and objective manner so as to ensure peaceful and successful elections. May God Bless Ghana Thank you.

Justice VCRAC Crabbe Co-Chair

Professor Miranda Greenstreet Co-Chair

DATE:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 2012