Commonwealth establishes Network of Elections Management bodies
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) at the end of their 21st Biennial conference established the Commonwealth Network of Elections Management Bodies (CNEMB).
This would also give meaning to the already existing Commonwealth Elections Monitoring Group and its activities towards the growth of democracy among member-countries.
These were contained in a 17-point communiqué presented at the end of the 2011 CHOGM in the western Australia city of Perth to draw curtains to the biennial conference.
The Communiqué among other things called on member countries to become active members of International Human Rights instruments to fully implement rights and freedoms set in United Nations Universal Periodic Review Process and to continue to support National Human rights Institutions.
“Commonwealth will also strengthen the management and delivery of commonwealth programmes, including regular review of their efficiency, effectiveness and results against measurable indicators.”
The Communiqué also urged the interim government of Fiji, who has been suspended from the Commonwealth for unlawful seizure of power, to restore democracy without further delay, respect Human Rights and to uphold the rule of law and affirmed that Commonwealth should continue to remain engaged with Fiji and support efforts towards the end.
On Gender Equality and the empowerment of Women in the Commonwealth, the Communiqué requested support for national programmes and the implementation of international instruments and agreements on women rights.
Commonwealth also recommended the provision of greater role for the youth in commonwealth member countries.
Commenting on the recommendations, Vice President John Dramani Mahama said government would work hard to ensure that most of the recommendations were strictly adhered to.
He said Ghana Government would also provide support that would hinge on effective educational programmes to conscientise Ghanaians to comply with such recommendations for successful implementation.
“Ghana is making democratic strides in a lot of the recommendations, but we shall continue to work harder in order to achieve the implementation goals as the years roll on in our development agenda.”
Source: GNA