Former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has arrived in Dhaka to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s upcoming Parliamentary Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12.
Appointed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, Akufo-Addo is overseeing a team of 12 eminent experts from across the globe to assess the transparency and credibility of the democratic process.
Since arriving on February 4, the delegation has engaged in extensive consultations with political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, and youth groups to evaluate the pre-poll environment.
Akufo-Addo emphasized that the mission serves to affirm the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the Bangladeshi people, noting that democracy remains a fundamental pillar of the Commonwealth Charter.
He specifically highlighted the importance of youth participation in a nation where a significant portion of the population is under the age of 35, calling their engagement vital to the country’s future.
The observers are set to deploy to various divisions on February 10 to monitor the voting and counting processes firsthand. The group will remain in the country until February 18 and is expected to issue an interim statement regarding its preliminary findings on February 14.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
