Text size

Election officials with voters during the Malawi Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, 20 May 2004.

Commonwealth announces Group to observe Malawi elections

8 May 2009

Former Ghana President Kufuor to lead Group

A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be present during Malawi’s general elections due to be held on 19 May 2009. The COG will be led by former Ghana President John Kufuor.
The Group was constituted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the invitation of the Malawi Electoral Commission.
“This is an important election and provides the people of Malawi with an opportunity to consolidate the democratic gains they have made since the end of one-party rule in 1994,” the Secretary-General said.

For media enquiries

Please contact Manoah Esipisu, at m.esipisu@commonwealth.int and +44 789 446 2021

The Commonwealth Observer Group will arrive in Malawi on 8 May 2009 and stay until 27 May 2009.

The Group’s mandate is to observe the preparations for the election; the polling, counting and results process; and the overall electoral environment. The Group is to assess the overall conduct of the process and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral process in Malawi.

The Group will act impartially and independently and shall conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.

The Group’s report will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Malawi, the Malawi Electoral Commission, political parties, and eventually to all Commonwealth governments.

The full composition of the Group:

John Kufuor (Chair)

Former President, Ghana

Mahfuz Anam

Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star, Bangladesh

Alexandra Devon

International Governance Consultant, Canada

David Henry

Former Chief Electoral Officer, New Zealand

Dr Jibrin Ibrahim

Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Nigeria

Des McNulty MSP