A 22 member delegation from the Independent Electoral Commission of Uganda, and the National Initiative for Civic Education in Uganda led by the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Ms. Rosa Malango, the Government Chief Whip of Uganda, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, The Team Leader Institutional Effectiveness (IE), UNDP, Mr. Innocent Ejolu, and the Programme Officer of UNDP, Ms. Hadijah Nabbale is on benchmarking visit to Ghana.
The learning visit which borders on Electoral Administration, Civic Education and the National Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Policy Making, was organised for key stakeholders through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) governance pillar, and the Inclusive and Effective Governance (IEG) Portfolio of UNDP to facilitate the curtailment of bottlenecks to Uganda’s sustainable development in the areas of Governance.
Objectives of the visit is to tour selected institutions in Ghana to share experiences and learning from counterparts in Ghana, establish strategic and technical partnerships to foster continuous peer learning and sharing of ideas, and document best practices and lessons for replication in Uganda.
Out of the 22 visitors, 13 of them paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. Richard Quayson, to receive first hand information on the establishment of CHRAJ and its mandates, and also to acquaint themselves with CHRAJ’s involvement in electoral processes in Ghana towards the promotion and protection of Ghanaian citizens’ right to vote in a conducive environment.
Addressing the team, Mr Quayson indicated that as part of the Commission’s resolve to promote freedom, protect human dignity, and enhance good service delivery in ensuring total independence by Ghanaians as far as Parliamentary and Presidential elections in Ghana are concerned, CHRAJ takes initiatives and proactive measures to monitor events, particularly the electioneering process and media reports before the general elections, the elections itself, and then occurrences after the elections and announcement of election results, and related matters. These, he said, informs the content of the credible report the Commission releases at the end of these elections which it shares with its key stakeholders.
Deputy Commissioner Quayson stressed that, relevant institutions are engaged by the Commission where at the end of the elections, the Commission finds incidences (incidents) of breaches in the voting procedure which undermines the dignity and integrity of eligible voters, specifically issues relating to human rights abuses, abuse of incumbency and electoral corruption, among others, and try to seek redress.
Other discussions were on CHRAJ’s Oversight Role on Security Forces, CHRAJ’s Public Education Activities on Elections and Collaboration with NGOs and Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights and Culture, etc.
