EU to observe elections

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The European Union will deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections slated for December 7. The mission would be led by Mr Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament, a statement signed by Mathias Eick, a press officer of the EU EOM, Ghana said. The statement said EOM's arrival in the country followed an invitation by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

According to the statement the EOM will on November 10 deploy 24 long-term observers to all the 10 regions. "On the election day, the mission would be represented by more than 70 observers to observe voting and counting," it added On November 11, Chief Maldenov will address a press conference and present the mandate and methodology of the EU Election Observation Mission.

The EU Election Observation Mission's objective is to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the election process, enhance public confidence in the electoral process, deter fraud, strengthen respect for human rights as well as contribute to conflict resolution. The mission will also observe the entire election process, including voting, counting and tabulation and the environment in which the election was being conducted. Meanwhile a team of seven election experts have already arrived in the country.