The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has announced its intention to deploy 300 personnel nationwide to oversee the general election scheduled for December 7.
Dr. Joseph Whittal, the CHRAJ Commissioner, spoke to the media in Accra, indicating that the election observers would be vigilant for rights violations and other specific criteria outlined in the CHRAJ election observation checklist.
“While we will be observing the election in a general capacity, as is customary for all election observers, we also have a constitutional obligation to monitor the right to vote. Specifically, we are focused on identifying rights violations and determining which individuals or parties are responsible,” he remarked.
He noted that CHRAJ observers would pay close attention to issues such as inflammatory language, acts of violence, media coverage, and other incidents that may arise during the election.
Dr. Whittal further stated that the Commission would later produce a “comprehensive report” documenting all activities during the elections, accompanied by recommendations.
“This report will be directed to key stakeholders, including the election management body, particularly if any concerns arise regarding their handling of the elections.
“In cases of security breaches, the recommendations will also be relevant to the security agencies to inform their actions in future elections.
“This special report will be presented to Parliament to allow the appropriate committee to consider the recommendations,” he added.
Expressing confidence in the capability of the 300 staff members to carry out their responsibilities effectively across all 276 constituencies on Election Day, the Commissioner clarified the distinct role of CHRAJ election observers compared to other local and international observers.
Other election monitors focus on aspects such as fairness, credibility, and freedom. While we (CHRAJ) will also address these elements in our election observation, we bear the additional responsibility of ensuring that Ghanaian citizens are able to exercise their right to vote and select their leaders in an environment that upholds their rights, he clarified.
Dr. Whittal noted that the Commission did not send observers for the Special Voting exercise on Monday, December 2, but plans to amend this approach in future elections.
He commended the nation’s “maturing democracy” and urged all stakeholders to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the progress achieved over the years.
In preparation for the election, the Commission organized a health screening for its staff in collaboration with Tobinco Pharmaceuticals.
