EC to receive million plus dollars from Canadian gov’t towards electoral process

Canada says it will offer one point four million dollars as part of a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Program to strengthen Ghana’s 2016 Electoral Process. 

The joint initiative known as Ghana Electoral Process Strengthening Initiative will work with the Electoral Commission to strengthen electoral administration mechanisms to improve results transmission and dispute resolution. 

A statement issued by the Canadian High Commission in Accra, and signed by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, Tina Guthrie, said the initiative will provide professional and technical training to national, regional and local media, civil society and independent observers to provide objective, balanced and gender sensitive media coverage of election-related issues and events.  

It adds that Canadian assistance will largely focus on supporting the political participation of women and activities to promote peaceful elections. 

Local elections officers in all 275 constituencies, political party agents and candidates will be trained and the public sensitised to the importance of a gender balanced inclusive and peaceful electoral process. 

The initiative is also expected to develop a conflict mediation strategy for outreach for all stakeholders of the electoral process to support the development of a Peace Accord. 

GNA