Accra: The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says it will deploy 300 staff members across the country to monitor the general election on December 7. Dr. Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner, addressing the press in Accra, said the election observers would look out for rights violations and other specific elements on the CHRAJ election observation checklist.
According to Ghana News Agency, the observers will monitor issues such as intemperate language, violence, and reportage on the airwaves during the election. Dr. Whittal emphasized that the Commission has a constitutional duty to monitor the right to vote and identify any rights violations by parties or independent candidates.
Dr. Whittal stated that CHRAJ would compile a comprehensive report with evidence of all activities during the elections and make recommendations. This report is intended for major stakeholders, including the election management body, and will address any flagged issues regarding how the elections were handl
ed. Recommendations will also be made for security agencies if necessary, and the report will be presented to Parliament for further action.
Dr. Whittal expressed confidence in the 300 staff members to perform diligently in all 276 constituencies on Election Day, distinguishing CHRAJ’s role from other election observers. He noted that while other observers focus on fairness and credibility, CHRAJ has the additional responsibility of ensuring citizens can exercise their right to vote in a respectful environment.
He acknowledged that CHRAJ did not deploy observers during the Special Voting exercise on December 2 but plans to address this in future elections. The Commissioner praised the country’s maturing democracy and urged stakeholders to avoid conduct that could undermine progress. In preparation for the election, CHRAJ organized a health screening for staff members in partnership with Tobinco Pharmaceuticals.
