Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is chairing a Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s Parliamentary Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12.
The former Ghanaian leader is heading a high-level delegation tasked with monitoring the electoral process, with particular attention to pre-election preparations, stakeholder engagement and the country’s overall readiness ahead of polling day.
In a Facebook post, Akufo-Addo announced his arrival in Dhaka on Sunday, February 8, stating that the Observer Group had already begun preliminary interactions with key stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
He explained that the team has initiated a series of consultations to gain a comprehensive understanding of Bangladesh’s political and electoral landscape in the lead-up to the vote.
“Arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to observe pre-poll arrangements ahead of the country’s Parliamentary Election and Referendum on February 12,” he wrote.
“The group have met with representatives of the media, civil society, youth and women’s groups, political parties and other stakeholders.”
Such engagements are a core component of the Commonwealth’s election observation framework, enabling the Observer Group to assess the transparency, inclusiveness and overall credibility of the electoral process by engaging directly with a broad range of participants.
Akufo-Addo’s appointment underscores his continued involvement in international diplomacy and democratic governance following the end of his presidency. During his tenure as President of Ghana, he was actively engaged in regional and global affairs, particularly in promoting democracy, constitutional rule and multilateral cooperation through bodies such as ECOWAS, the African Union and the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Observer Group is expected to remain in Bangladesh through election day and the immediate post-election period, observing the conduct of voting, counting and the collation of results.
Akufo-Addo officially handed over power on January 7, 2025, after completing two terms in office. This assignment represents one of his first major international engagements since leaving the presidency.
