CODEO reports low voter education and campaign visibility

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has released a concerning report highlighting a significant lack of voter and civic education in constituencies across the country. Their findings indicate that only 12% of observers noted any voter education activities conducted by the Electoral Commission. The primary channels for civic education identified were community radio (42% of reports), posters (41%), and regular radio broadcasts (39%).
CODEO deployed 97 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) across the country starting from October 1, 2024.
The observers were sent to 97 purposively selected constituencies, which include a mix of constituencies considered strongholds or swing/competitive areas for the two major political parties, hotspot constituencies, and some constituencies along border communities in the country.
This report is based on weekly observation reports submitted by CODEO’s LTOs.
The findings presented in this statement are derived from a total of 388 reports filed by LTOs from the 97 constituencies during the observed period.
Despite these efforts, CODEO observers found no specific capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering female candidates or Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), raising concerns about inclusivity in the electoral process.

Dominance of major political parties
The report underscores that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are the most active players in the campaign landscape, engaging in various activities, particularly house-to-house campaigning and rallies.
However, the visibility of NDC campaigns varied significantly across different regions, particularly in Bono, Oti, and Eastern, where observers noted little to no activity.
In contrast, independent candidates and other political parties had minimal presence, with only 12% of reports indicating campaign activities outside of the two major parties.

Election security remains intact
Regarding election security, CODEO observers reported no instances of violence, intimidation, or harassment against women during the observed period.
There were also no reports of police or military misconduct, suggesting a generally secure environment for political campaigning.
However, CODEO raised alarms over a shooting incident in the Agona West Constituency on October 27, which left four individuals injured.
The coalition has urged law enforcement to ensure swift justice to deter further incidents and maintain electoral integrity.

Allegations of incumbency abuse
Concerns about abuse of incumbency were also raised, with observers documenting instances where government resources appeared to be used for campaigning.
For example, flyers for the NPP parliamentary candidate were reportedly placed on government vehicles, including earth-moving equipment meant for public works.
Similar incidents were observed with government school buses and district assembly vehicles being used to support political campaigns, prompting calls for accountability to ensure fair competition in the electoral process.

Key recommendations for improvement
In light of these findings, CODEO urges all election stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and civil society organizations, to intensify voter education efforts across the country.
These actions are essential for promoting responsible citizenship and ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
Additionally, CODEO calls on all political parties to reject vote-buying practices and urges government appointees to refrain from using state resources for political campaigning, emphasizing the importance of adhering to Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits conflict of interest.