Media Advisory

Arrival of the Head of AU Election Observation Mission to the Republic of Ghana H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of the Republic of Namibia

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What:  Arrival of the Head of AU Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the Republic of Ghana H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of the Republic of Namibia

When:  2nd December 2016

Where:  Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana
Who:  Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit at the African Union      Commission
Objective:  The deployment of an AUEOM to Ghana reflects AU Commission’s desire and aspiration for an Africa of good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law in all of AU member states
Background:
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has approved the deployment of 40 short-term observers to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Ghana scheduled for 7 December 2016.  The short-term observers will complement the work of 4 core team of election analysts and 10 long-term observers who have been deployed in the country since late October 2016, and have been following and reporting on the pre-election preparations and overall political environment.
Media representatives in Ghana are invited to take part and cover the activities of the AUEOM.

For more information about the mission and its activities, please contact:
Mr. Idrissa Kamara| AUEOM Coordinator| Email: kamarai@africa-union.org| Mobile: +233 264349122

For any interview requests please contact:

Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Directorate of Information and Communication| Email: gamalk@africa-union.org, gamal90@gmail.com| Mobile: +233 246009294

Notes to the Editor:
Ghana’s upcoming 7 December 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be the seventh consecutive elections since the Fourth Republic in 1992, and represent another opportunity for the country to further consolidate its democratic gains.
In order to contribute to democratic consolidation in Ghana and in accordance with AU instruments on democracy, elections and governance, Ghana’s national legal framework, and other regional and international instruments for international election observation,  the African Union (AU) launched its long-term election observation mission in Ghana on 22 November by deploying four (4) core team election analysts at the national level to analyze the legal, political, and electoral environment, and ten (10) long-term observers to cover all the regions of the country.
The deployment of the AU Mission to the Ghana is in line with paragraph VI (d) of OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, paragraph 4.6 of the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions as well as the democratic principles and values enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The aim is to contribute to democratic consolidation in Ghana.
The AU Short-Term Observation Mission is led by H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President of the Republic of Namibia, and comprises observers drawn from the Pan African Parliament, the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, Election Management Bodies, Civil Society, Think Thanks, and independent experts from 25 African countries. The Mission will deploy to the Republic of Ghana from 26 November to 10 December 2016.

The Mission is in Ghana at the invitation of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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