Accra, Ghana//-The 25-member Reconstituted Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) Advisory Board was inaugurated in Accra on Thursday 19 July 2023 to steer the affairs of the organization, with a call on members to bring their experiences to enhance electoral integrity as the Ghana goes to the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
CODEO, which is an independent and non-partisan organisation made up of civil society groups, faith-based organizations, and professional organisations, is managed by the 25-member Advisory Board co-chaired by the distinguished minister of the gospel, Dr Fred Deegbe; and a stateswoman, Mrs Elizabeth Joyce Villars.
The advisory board which used to be 15-member was expanded to the 25-member to make it diverse and inclusive of almost all segments of the Ghanaian society.
Yesterday’s inauguration was the second time that the CODEO Advisory Board was reconstituted since its establishment in the year 2000.
The first advisory board was co-chaired by the distinguished stateswoman and academic, Professor Miranda Greenstreet and the renowned retired jurist and academic, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe.
However, he passed in 2018 and Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu was appointed as the acting co-chair with Prof Greenstreet.
The two handed over to Dr Deegbe, and Mrs Villars to run the affairs of the electoral monitoring body which works to promote electoral integrity, transparency, and credibility in Ghana.
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) serves as the CODEO’s secretariat and provides it with technical and logistical support to execute its all-important mandate.
Handing over the baton of leadership to the new co-chairs, Sheikh Shaibu pledged to continue to support Dr Deegbe, and Mrs Villars to enable the growth of the organization.
He used the opportunity to express gratitude to his outgoing co-chair, Professor Miranda Greenstreet for working assiduously to promote electoral integrity in the country.
Assurance
In their acceptance speech, Dr Deegbe, and Mrs Villars assured that CODEO would not renege on its mandate and would explore all opportunities to continue to fulfil its commitments to the people of Ghana.
“We are honoured to have been given the nod by members on the Board to serve as co-chairs in leading the Coalition in its next chapter. We recognize the invaluable work that CODEO has done over the past two decades, and we hope to continue this legacy in the upcoming years”.
Glowing tributes
They paid glowing tributes to Prof Miranda Greenstreet, the founding Chair and longest serving member on the Board for her meritorious voluntary service in leading and building a solid foundation and integrity for the Coalition since its inception. “Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu took the reins of leadership as the acting Co-Chair in 2019 when the leadership of the Coalition was transitioning following the demise in the preceding year of our beloved Co-Chair Justice VCRAC Crabbe.
His remarkable leadership of the Coalition is acknowledged along with each member of the erstwhile Advisory Board who laboured through all the emerging challenges to ensure the development of the Coalition”.
Acknowledgement
Dr Deegbe, and Mrs Villars acknowledged the outgoing board members, and commend their valuable experience, expertise, and dedication as the driving force towards the collective mission of the Coalition.
“We also want to give a special welcome to the new entrants who are represented on the Board in their individual capacities: Nana Asantewaa Afadzinu, Prof. Takyiwaa Manu, and Ms. Gifty Florence Anin.
We look forward to collaborating with you and benefiting from your fresh ideas, and we thank you for your commitment to the important work of CODEO”.
They again acknowledged the Advisory Board’s newest member organizations and their representatives: Apostle Immanuel Tettey of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC); Alhaji Ahmad Suleman Anderson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Dr. Marzuq Abubakar Azindo, Office of the National Chief Imam; Edmund Acquaye, Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG); Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA); Ms. Joyce Nyame of the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF); Ms. Hamida Harrison, ABANTU for Development; and Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Other members of the Advisory Board include- Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director, CDD-Ghana; Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Co-founder and current Board Chair, Afrobarometer Network; and Kofi Bentum Quantson, Former Director, Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service and Former Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
Prof Miranda Greenstreet honoured
Prof Miranda Greenstreet, the founding Chair and longest serving member on the CODEO Advisory Board was honoured for her meritorious voluntary service in leading and building a solid foundation and integrity for the Coalition since its inception.
A plaque, citation certificate and other items were presented to her by the Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement of CDD-Ghana, Dr Kojo Asante.
