So far, so good – CODEO commends EC on peaceful 2020 polls

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), has commended the Electoral Commision (EC) for granting the safe of Ghanaians in the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. 

A statement signed by the National Coordinator of CODEO, Albert Arhin condemned some irregularities during the electoral process and said it was conducting further investigations into them.

It pointed out incidents such as the issuance of ballot papers with some candidates missing in the Awutu Senya West Constituency in the Central Region and the Alhaji Salam Grinding Mill polling station at Bawku Central in the Upper East Region.

CODEO Observers met 87.2% of election officials present at their assigned polling stations upon arrival. The remaining 12.8% were not available at the polling stations.

72.5% of the polling stations had the required number of 6 election officials, 18.6% of them had 5 officials, 5.9% had 4 officials, and 2.3% had 1 to 3 officials.

In 98.2% of polling stations, electoral officials allowed the CODEO observers to execute their duties as accredited election observers without interference.

Reports from CODEO observers showed that voting generally commenced on time.

CODEO observers indicated that 91.8% of polling stations were set up to allow voters to mark their ballots in secret.

94.4% of all polling stations were accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly.

The report also indicated that 92.6% of the polling stations had the requisite, sensitive materials available (i.e., the ballot box, ballot papers, indelible ink, voting screen, validating stamp, ink pad, endorsing ink, and tactile ballot papers).

Ballot booklets had serial numbers in numerical order in almost all of the polling stations.

CODEO observers also indicated that the presidential and parliamentary ballot boxes were shown to be empty, sealed, and placed in public view before voting commenced in all polling stations.

The Police topped the list of security officials deployed for the election followed by uniformed personnel from other security services, the Ghana Armed Forces, and National Security.

Observer reports also revealed that security personnel were unarmed in 62.1% of polling stations.

CODEO observers found COVID-19 safety materials available at most polling stations.

Read below the full release below: 

CODEO-Mid-day-Press-Release-on-2020-Elections_07dec_2020-FINAL-FINAL_without-image