Mrs. Villars, Rev Dr. Deegbe co-chairs CODEO Advisory Board, proposing an address of a-six point gap

Mrs Elizabeth Joyce Villars and Rev. Minister, Ghana Baptist Convention and a private legal practitioner, Rev Dr. Fred Deegbe have been appointed co-chairs of the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers( CODEO).

Their appointment replaces the Acting Co-Chair, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu whose reign took effect at the time the leadership of the Coalition was transitioning following the demise of the then Co-Chair Justice VCRAC Crabbe.

In their acceptance speech, the CODEO Co-Chairs underscored the readiness to contribute their potential and experiences in ensuring that the legacy of the CODEO is preserved.

While recognizing the valuable work that CODEO has done over the past two decades, the duo co-chairs acknowledge the tasks but resolved to contribute their quota in furtherance of its mandate.

They however tabled a-6-point suggestion to address gaps or flaws identified in a bid to making the organization better, efficient, proactive and non-partisan.

The gaps and flaws identified include but not limited to the following: 1.that the electoral commission of Ghana must establish clear legal/administrative procedures for handling irregularities by polling and collation officials during public elections, 2. electoral commission must provide timely and transparent process for the publication of detailed polling station and collation center results at all levels on the electoral commission's website ahead of the declaration of results of presidential elections, 3. that judicial service of Ghana must amend the roles of court proceedings to provide shorter timeline for adjudication of parliamentary and presidential petitions at the High Courts and other superior courts of adjudicature to promote electoral peace and credibility, 4. that parliament must pass the Affirmative Action Law to provide at least 30 per cent quota for women in governance and decision-making position with a progressive increase to 50 per cent and quotas provided by political parties for women aspirants and candidates, 5. that the Ghana Police must strictly enforce the provision in the Vigilantism and Related Offences Acts 2019, Act 999 to curb the threats of vigilante activities and that there must be a reinstatement of the call to the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to give timely and regular updates on the electoral related violence cases including the 8 unfortunate deaths that were recorded during the 2020 elections.

The duo urged electoral stakeholders to work to curb the menacing influence of vote-buying and abuse of power which according to them is significantly increasing the cost of politics with potential threats to undermine Ghana's young democracy.

While expressing their heartfelt appreciation, the duo co-chairs appealed for public support to help the Coalition continue its work as independent and non-partisan observers who are interested in credible and peaceful elections that would propel Ghana's stability and democratic ideals.

CODEO seized the moment to make a presentation of plaque and others to the long-serving former co-chair of CODEO Advisory Board,Professor Miranda Greenstreet.

Mrs. Elizabeth Joyce Villars was the Founder and Board Chairperson of Camelot Ghana Limited, former Head, Computer Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

She was the former Steering Committee Chairperson,BUSAC Fund, Former President, Association of Ghana Industries, Former President, Private Enterprise Foundation; now called the Private Enterprise Federation, Marketing Woman of the Year, 1998, Recipient, The order of the Volta Award - Companion Division, 2006.

For Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, he is a Rev. Minister, Ghana Baptist Convention and private legal practitioner,Former President, Ghana Baptist Convention, Former General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana, Former Board member, Ghana AIDS Commission,Former Board Member, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, Former Board member, National Media Commission,Former Board member, Narcotics Control Board,Former Lecturer, Ghana Baptist Seminary

Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Member, CODEO Advisory Board,Co-founder and current Board Chair, Afrobarometer Network, Co-founder and Former Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Former Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Distinguished Africanist of the Year, African Studies Association of US and Canada (2018), Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice (2017), Recipient, Order of Volta, 2008, (Highest national award, Republic of Ghana)

Mr. Eric Angel Agbe-Carbonu, Member, CODEO Advisory Board, President, National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT),Teacher, St. Mary’s Senior High School, Accra,

Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Former Acting Co-Chair, CODEO Advisory Board, Former Regional Manager, Greater Accra Islamic Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, Board Member, National Peace Council, Member, Civil Society Coalition on National Reconciliation, Executive Council Member, Coalition of Muslim Organizations (COMOG), Member, Advisory Board of the National Chief Imam,Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam

Mr. Kofi Bentum Quantson Member, CODEO Advisory Board Former Director, Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service, Former Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Former Executive Secretary, Narcotics Control Board (now Narcotics Control Commission), Former National Security Coordinator, Author and publisher,

Ms. Daphne Lariba Nabila Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Executive Director, Legal Resource Center, Consultant for African Union Commission, International Organisation for Migration, Amnesty International, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, Research and Advisory services for Integrated Water and Agricultural Development (IWAD), NAP+Ghana, Prime Attorneys, Ghana Coalition of NGO’s in Health and Freiderich Ebert Foundation-Ghana, Author and publisher, Private legal practitioner,

Mr. Frank Beecham Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Former Board Chair, Access Bank, Former President, Ghana Bar Association, Board Chairman, Coronation Insurance Ghana LTD, Former General Manager, Merchant Bank Ghana Ltd, Partner, Bram-Larbi, Beecham & Co. law firm,

Ms. Philippa Larsen Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Former Headteacher, Bawjiase DA Basic B school, Former President, Ghana Association of Teachers (GNAT), GETFUND Board member, Board Chairperson, OSACS Microfinance Company,

Mr. Albert Dwumfuor Member, CODEO Advisory Board • President, Ghana Journalists Association, Managing Director, Atinka Media Village,Media consultant

Mr. Alexander Bankole Williams Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Africa’s representative on the Goal Ball Sub-committee, International Blind Sports Association (IBSA), National Sports Coordinator, Ghana Blind Union, Coordinator, Assistive Technology Unit of the University of Ghana Computing Systems, Former Project Officer on Elections, Employment and Legislation Review, the Ghana Federation of the Disabled

Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayorsey Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Senior clergy person, Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Church - Ghana, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana, Former President, Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Former President, Trinity Theological Seminary in Legon, Accra, Former Board Member, National Accreditation Board

Ms. Joyce Nyame Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Programs Manager, Youth Bridge Foundation, Former Project Coordinator, Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana,Programs Assistant, Women’s Rights Organization.

Mrs. Hamida Harrison Member, CODEO Advisory Board,Convener, Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Sustainability Manager, Abantu for Development.

Mr. Edmund Acquaye Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Public Relation Director, CLOGSAG, Former Project Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Former Community Business Development Advisor, TECNOSERVE.

Alhaj Ahmad Suleman Anderson Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Serves as the Naib Ameer III (Deputy Head III) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, Member, Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC),Former honorary Regional Manager, Ahmadiyya Muslim Education Unit, Western Region, Former General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Former Accounts Manager, Van Landewijk Inc. Limited

Dr. Marzuq Abubakar Azindo Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Personal Assistant (PA) to His Eminence the National Chief Imam, Lecturer, University of Applied Management, Ghana, Member, Governing Board of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Author and researcher

Apostle Immanuel Tettey Member, CODEO Advisory Board, General Secretary, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Director of Administration, The Apostolic Church – Ghana, General Headquarters, Development Planning, and Institutional and Organization Development (I/OD) Consultant

Ms. Gifty Florence Anin-Botwe Member, CODEO Advisory Board Commissioner of Police Retired, Former Diplomat, First female Commandant, Ghana Police College, First female Director, Criminal Investigation Department, Former Director General of Police Education, Former Director General of Human Resource, Training and Welfare of the Ghana Police Service, Former Head of Passports and Immigration Section, Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Former Director, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, Chairperson, National Association of Retired Police Officers NARPO-GH.

Professor Takyiwaa Manuh Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Fellow, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Emerita Professor, African Studies at the University of Ghana,Former Director, Social Development Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),Former Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana.

Nana Asantewaa Afadzinu Member, CODEO Advisory Board, Executive Director, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Served on the Board of AfDB-CSO Committee, the International Society for Third-Sector Research, YALI West Africa, and Star Ghana Foundation, Trustee, OXFAM GB, a board member of Resource Alliance, Member, Advisory Council of the SDG Philanthropy Forum in Ghana,

Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo Member, CODEO Advisory Board, President, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Chairperson, West African Health Sector Unions Network (WAHSUN) of Public Services International (PSI), Chairperson, Ghana PSI National Coordinating Council, Foundation Fellow, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Fellow, West African College of Nurses and Midwives, Member, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Ghana, Governing Board, Member, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Governing Board

Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh Member, CODEO Advisory Board Executive Director, Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Lawyer and former lecturer, Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, 2011, Former Constitutional Adviser to the UN Special Envoy to Yemen,

Ambassador Francis A. Tsegah Member, CODEO Advisory Board Senior Fellow, Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Former Ghana's Ambassador to Spain. CODEO seized the moment to recognize and made special presentation of a plaque amongst others.