In all, CODEO is implementing six (6) broad-based inter-related projects and citizens support programs this year.
With the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CODEO tis implementing four (4) out of the six projects, namely:
CODEO is observing all phases of the electoral cycle from the pre-election period through Election day to the immediate post-election environment. Activities include:
To enhance the quality of Election-day observation, timely reporting, election results tabulation transparency, and credibility of election outcomes, CODEO will implement a Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) for the 2016 presidential polls. The PVT will employ a multi-staged, random sampling procedure to select polling stations spread throughout the country. CODEO will rely on SMS-technology to receive information from election observers to make precise estimates of the outcome of the presidential polls. Through the PVT, CODEO will be able to independently verify the accuracy of the tabulation process and the official presidential results declared by the Electoral Commission, as well as share timely reports on the conduct of the elections with all stakeholders.
CODEO is observing and tracking the implementation of electoral reforms accepted by the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the December 7 Polls. The objective of this intervention is to provide constructive advocacy for ensuring inclusive and credible implementation of electoral reforms.
CODEO will work to deepen citizen?s knowledge and awareness of the electoral process and environment through district level civic and voter education. CODEO?s civic/voter education, seeks to complement efforts by the EC and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). CODEO?s intervention will specifically focus on electoral rules and regulations, electoral reforms, election procedures, particularly on how to cast a ballot correctly, vote-buying, democratic citizenship, and election peace. CODEO will recruit and train 216 community educators to carry out civic education in all districts. CODEO will also develop Braille versions of a civic education manual for the visually impaired.
Besides these specific interventions, CODEO is carrying out the following:
With support from STAR Ghana, CODEO and CDD-Ghana are collaborating to promote policy issue-based campaigning in the 2016 polls. The project, 'Educating the Public on Voting on Policy Issues: Reducing Vote Buying in Election 2016', seeks to educate electorates in 10 selected constituencies in 5 regions to be guided by policy issues in making voting choices.
With support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), CODEO is partnering CDD-Ghana to organize public debates for parliamentary candidates in fifty (50) selected constituencies throughout the country. The debates aim at highlighting campaign messages of parliamentary candidates on policy issues that affect the lives of the marginalized (women, youth, People living with Disabilities, and Persons living with HIV/AIDs) in order to generate post-election elected official responsiveness and accountability. With support from the Ford Foundation, CODEO and CDD-Ghana seek to highlight the peculiar needs and challenges of populations in marginalized communities in Ghana?s border towns, and difficult-to-reach areas in order to promote inclusion of issues affecting women and the youth during the elections.
