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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth to Observe General Elections in Ghana

26 November 1996


A team of 14 Commonwealth Observers, together with a supporting team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, will be present in Ghana for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections which are to be held on 7 December 1996.

In making the announcement today, Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku said that the Commonwealth was responding to a request from the Government of Ghana for a Commonwealth Observer Group to observe the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. A planning mission from the Commonwealth Secretariat which visited Ghana in October established that there was widespread support for a Commonwealth presence during the elections.

The Commonwealth team for Ghana will be led by Sir Paul Reeves, former Governor-General of New Zealand. The other observers will be:

Hon Ahmed Hassan Diria MP
Member of Parliament, Tanzania

Mr Peter Fowler CMG
Former Diplomat, Britain

Mr Mohammad Abu Hena
Chief Election Commissioner, Bangladesh

Ms Frances Howat
Electoral Officer, Australia

HE Ms Amina Hughes
Diplomat, Zimbabwe

Hon Ilani Isahak MP
Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Hon Catherine Kainja MP
Member of Parliament, Malawi

HE Mr Lee Moore
Diplomat, St Kitts and Nevis

Mr Justice Soorujnundun Moosun
Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mauritius

Senator Jessica Odle
Parliamentarian, Barbados

Mr Urban Reyes
Chief Elections Officer, Belize

Hon Saulo Busolo Wanambisi MP
Member of Parliament, Kenya

Ms Janet Willwerth
Chief Electoral Officer, Canada


Chief Electoral Officer, Canada

The Group will be supported by a nine-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Mr Jon Sheppard, Director of the Political Affairs Division.

Note to Editors:
The mission to Ghana will represent the 19th election observed by the Commonwealth since October 1990, including most recently elections in St Kitts and Nevis, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh. These observer missions are to be seen in the context of a decision taken by Commonwealth Heads of Government to support the promotion of democracy in a number of ways, including through observation, on request, of elections in member states.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

96/64 26 November 1996

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int