Parliamentarians from Ghana to observe UK election

Next month, an MP from the Parliament of Ghana will observe the UK’s general election as part of a multilateral Election Assessment Mission (EAM) made up of 20 Commonwealth MPs and electoral officials. Ghana will be represented by Hon. Alfred Kwame Agbesi MP.

Whilst in the UK, the EAM will split into smaller groups, which will each spend 3-8 May in one of a sample of six constituencies. Whilst in constituency they will monitor Election Day procedures – from the opening of polling stations throughout the voting, to their closing, and the counting of ballots – and will meet with candidates from all the major parties, returning officers, local officials, community groups and other relevant stakeholders in order to assess the conduct of the election and the environment in which it will take place.

Following polling day on 7 May, the mission will produce a preliminary statement outlining its principal findings, followed by a more detailed report which will include specific recommendations for improving electoral processes at future UK elections. The preliminary findings will be released at a press conference taking place at 1600 on Friday 8 May in the CPA Room, Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament. Journalists who wish to attend or to receive a copy of the statement should email CPA UK’s Communications Manager, julia.beck@parliament.uk for accreditation.

The EAM is organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, following a small-scale observation of the 2010 general election. The 2010 report highlighted a number of areas for improvement at a national level, such as postal voting processes and the responsibility of the ‘head of household’ for registering the entire ‘household’, which have since been the focus of reform by the Electoral Commission.