Concluding Statement of the Commonwealth Conference of Election Management Bodies Accra, Ghana, 19-21 May 2010

The Commonwealth has a long tradition and strong track record in promoting democratic principles and practice among its members. This commitment to democracy was reaffirmed at the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad & Tobago, at which member countries reaffirmed their strong and abiding commitment to the Commonwealth’s core values, including, “the inalienable right of the individual to participate by means of free and democratic political processes in shaping the societies in which they live”.

At the same meeting, Heads of Government acknowledged the role of elections in furthering and entrenching democratic processes and accountability. Heads of Government endorsed the concept of a Commonwealth Network of National Election Management Bodies, to facilitate experience sharing and to create support mechanisms, promote good practices and facilitate opportunities for peer support across the Commonwealth.

In order to take forward the Network, the Commonwealth Secretariat, in co-operation with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, convened a Conference of Election Management Bodies in Accra from 19-21 May 2010. The Conference was attended by 53 senior election officials from 38 Commonwealth countries, representing Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific. It was inaugurated by the Vice-President of Ghana, H.E. John Mahama, in the presence of the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

The Conference welcomed the acknowledgement by Heads of Government of the role of elections in entrenching democracy in member countries and welcomed the endorsement for the Network which, conference participants agreed, could make a valuable contribution to strengthening the role of EMBs across the Commonwealth.

Participants recognised that Election Management Bodies (EMBs) constitute a key democratic institution, playing a vital role in determining the credibility and legitimacy of elections in the eyes of the citizens of member states and the integrity of the political process. They agreed to launch and support the Network, the aim of which is to further support EMBs in meeting the challenges before them and thereby strengthen electoral and democratic processes in member countries, decrease the instances of election-related conflict, and enhance the legitimacy of elected governments.

The Conference agreed that a key asset of the Network will be the development of a Web-Forum as part of the Commonwealth’s planned Partnership Platform Portal (CP3). This will enable not only a visible profile for the Network and its members but also a mechanism for virtual exchanges and information sharing. The Network will also create Expert Working Groups to address key aspects of election management, such as the independence of the EMB; voter registration; electoral violence; the misuse of state resources; campaign financing; the use of IT; media coverage of elections and in the period between elections; electoral complaints and appeals; relations with stakeholders, and other aspects of election administration.

It was also agreed that a Steering Committee be established to provide guidance and oversight to the Network, supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Steering Committee is to be chaired by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the host of the 2010 Conference, and will also comprise representatives of the EMBs of Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Samoa and Zambia. This Committee will meet as soon as possible, to sustain the momentum from the Conference, to further discuss modalities for the Web Forum and how to take the Network forward in other ways. Its conclusions will be shared with EMBs of all member states.

The Conference agreed that such pan-Commonwealth conferences of EMBs are invaluable in nurturing and promoting the notion of a Commonwealth electoral community and to maintain momentum for the Network. It was therefore agreed that they would henceforth be held regularly, ideally on a biennial basis.

The Conference also underlined that the Network will need to have access to further resources, both human and financial, in order to undertake all envisaged activities and have the necessary impact. Participants urged Commonwealth member governments to put the commensurate resources at the disposal of the Network, bearing in mind that it enjoyed the endorsement of Heads of Government. The Steering Committee will further explore the options for seeking such support.

In closing the Conference, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, H.E. Kamalesh Sharma, reaffirmed his strong support for the Network and his belief that it can make a pivotal contribution to the quality of democracy and trust in its processes among the people of the Commonwealth. He also renewed the commitment of the Commonwealth Secretariat to supporting the Network, in line with the mandate given by Heads of Government, and to working with EMBs for the common good and with common purpose.

Accra

21 May 2010