CHRAJ deploys 300 observers for election 2024

Dr. Joseph Whittal, the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has announced the deployment of 300 observers across the country to monitor the upcoming elections on December 7. 

These observers will be stationed at polling stations within areas where the commission operates to oversee issues related to citizens’ right to vote.

The observers’ focus will include assessing the use of inappropriate language in media, instances of violence, arrangements for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to cast their votes early, and the conduct of security agencies, particularly concerning the use of force. 

Dr. Whittal revealed this initiative during a media briefing following a health screening event at CHRAJ’s headquarters in Accra. He noted that the findings from the observation would be compiled into a special report with recommendations for Parliament.

The health screening event, held in collaboration with Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, provided an opportunity to highlight CHRAJ's broader engagements while addressing election-related concerns.

Dr. Whittal also mentioned that the commission is reconsidering its stance on observing Special Voting exercises. This comes after a viral video showed security officers receiving food while queued to vote, which he described as a significant lapse in integrity.

He criticized the incident, stating, “Security personnel should exhibit vigilance. Accepting food from unknown sources while voting undermines the seriousness of their duty to secure the election process. Such behavior could set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust.”

Dr. Whittal further cautioned that such practices compromise the credibility of security agencies, likening it to corruption and a breach of ethical standards.

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Whittal urged the government to strengthen protections for PWDs and ensure compliance with constitutional and international obligations, including the 1992 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

He emphasized that the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006 (Act 715) requires urgent revision to align with Ghana’s commitments under the CRPD, particularly regarding issues like women’s and children’s rights, access to information, disaster preparedness, and political participation.

CHRAJ encouraged the government to expedite amendments to the Act and ratify key protocols, including the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Optional Protocol to the CRPD.