The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is urging Ghana’s Electoral Commission to conduct this year’s polls in a credible manner that will earn the admiration of Ghanaians and other citizens within the West African sub-region.

West African democracy has been on a sharp decline, with ECOWAS states experiencing a rise in unconstitutional changes in government and election-related violence.

However, in its bid to protect what he describes as a good example of democracy in the sub-region, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, says it behooves the electoral commission of Ghana to organize the upcoming polls in a manner that will reflect the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.

Dr. Touray made these remarks in an exclusive interview with JoyNews’ Blessed Sogah on the sidelines of the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“I think the fact that they (Electoral Commission) are independent means a lot. It means you have to meet the expectations of the people. The expectations of the people should be at the back of their mind, and that is credibility, fairness and inclusiveness. Everybody should find themselves in these processes, so that is important and we encourage them [Electoral Commission],” he said.

President Touray further explained that in line with the mission and vision of the Community, ECOWAS supports independent electoral commissions and “we will not fail in the case of Ghana”.

Additionally, ECOWAS says it is set to deploy long-term election observers to monitor activities before during and after the elections.

“Ghana is one of the countries we are preparing for. As you know, we will be sending long-term observers to be followed by a group of observers to look at not only the election day event, but the process that will lead to the elections.

Recounting his observations on the level of cordiality and peaceful coexistence amongst governing opposition parties as well as all other political actors, Dr. Touray is expressing hopes that the political transition will witness no setbacks.

“I want to congratulate the people of Ghana for their maturity. So I look forward to a fair election process that we will all be proud of” The stakes are high in Ghana’s 2024 general elections as the governing New Patriotic Party says it intends to break the eight-year political cycle in order to form the next government.

The incumbent party is however facing an ever-growing challenge from opposition parties who argue that the NPP administration failed to deliver on its promises to the people