The African Union's Pre-Election Mission to Ghana is recommending an increased dialogue among all stakeholders, especially political parties, in order to reduce tension before and after the 2020 general elections.

The team, which has over the past few days, engaged political parties, the Electoral Commission (EC) and other stakeholders on Ghana’s preparedness toward the upcoming election, said it has observed that although a number of interventions have been rolled out by the EC and the security agencies are aiming to ensure a free and fair election, some items remain unresolved.

Key among them is the need for more dialogue and interactions between the political parties and the EC.

Another is the issue of political party vigilantism, which the government told the AU Mission it has under control.

The leader of the AU Mission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, also revealed that former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will lead another election observer mission for the period of the elections

At a separate meeting with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Tuesday, 17 November 2020, she expressed sincere appreciation for the visit, and acknowledge the importance of elections to the deepening of democracy and good governance.

Ms Botchwey noted that the government of Ghana is committed to promoting democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and rule of law, which have underpinned Ghana’s democratic development for many years.

She commended the outstanding work done so far by ECOWAS and the AU toward the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections in the region and for the ongoing efforts to calm tensions that arose in Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.

Ms Botchwey assured the delegation of the government of Ghana’s commitment to working closely with the stakeholders toward the conduct of a peaceful, free and fair elections in the country.

She further mentioned that specific measures have been put in place by the government, the EC and the National Election Security Architecture, headed by the Inspector-General of Police, toward the establishment of Joint Operation Centres (JOCs), as well as physical training and capacity-building in the prosecution of electoral offences, with the overall goal of promoting tension-free elections.

She expressed the hope that the stakeholders will put the interest of the country above all other considerations, with the view to maintaining Ghana’s enviable image as a beacon of democracy in the region.