Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is leading the Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s Parliamentary Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12. The former Ghanaian leader heads the high-level team tasked with monitoring the electoral process, focusing on pre-election preparations, stakeholder engagement, and the nation’s overall readiness ahead of voting day. In a Facebook post, Akufo-Addo confirmed his arrival in Dhaka on Sunday, February 8, noting that the Observer Group had already begun initial consultations with key stakeholders.
According to him, the team has commenced a series of consultations to gain broad insight into Bangladesh’s political and electoral environment ahead of the polls. “Arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to observe pre-poll arrangements ahead of the country’s Parliamentary Election and Referendum on February 12.
“The group have met with representatives of the media, civil society, youth and women’s groups, political parties and other stakeholders.” These engagements form a critical part of the Commonwealth’s election observation process, allowing the team to hear directly from a wide range of actors and assess the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process. Akufo-Addo’s role reflects his continued engagement in international diplomacy and democratic governance following the completion of his presidency.
During his presidency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo played a prominent role in regional and global affairs, championing democracy, constitutional governance, and multilateral cooperation through institutions such as the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Observer Group is expected to remain in Bangladesh through election day and the immediate post-election period, monitoring voting, counting, and the collation of results. Akufo-Addo officially handed over office on January 7, 2025, after serving two terms as President of Ghana. This assignment represents one of his first major international engagements since leaving office
Source: Kabah Atawoge
