On December 17, 2024, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and Timothy Clement, Esq., Chairman of the NBA Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF) Governing Council, attended the presentation of the Preliminary Report by Yiaga Africa at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The event focused on Yiaga Africa’s observations during the 2024 Ghana General Elections, offering key insights into the election process and highlighting significant electoral innovations.
Yiaga Africa, a renowned civil society organization dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights, and citizen engagement in elections, played a pivotal role in observing the elections in Ghana. The organization’s mission is to ensure transparency and accountability in electoral processes across Africa, advocating for free, fair, and credible elections.
During the presentation, Yiaga Africa highlighted several important innovations introduced by the Ghanaian Electoral Commission. One of the notable developments was the introduction of voting by proxy, allowing eligible voters who were unable to vote in person to assign a representative to vote on their behalf. This initiative aimed to make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible.
Additionally, the report revealed special provisions for security agencies in Ghana, ensuring that members of the military and police forces were able to exercise their right to vote, despite the challenges posed by their duties. This special consideration allowed security personnel to participate in the electoral process without compromising national security.
Another groundbreaking feature of the election was the inclusion of Ghanaians in the diaspora, who were given the opportunity to vote from abroad. This move marked a significant step toward increasing global participation in the country’s electoral process, allowing citizens living outside Ghana to have a direct impact on the outcome of the election.
The presentation of Yiaga Africa’s findings sparked an engaging discussion on how these innovations could serve as a model for improving Nigeria’s own electoral system. NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, expressed his admiration for the progressive steps taken by Ghana and emphasized the importance of continually improving Nigeria’s electoral processes to ensure they are more inclusive and transparent.
Timothy Clement, Esq., Chairman of the NBA-YLF Governing Council, also reflected on the positive implications of these reforms, particularly for young Nigerians who could benefit from more inclusive and accessible voting systems. Both Osigwe and Clement agreed that Nigeria could draw valuable lessons from Ghana’s elections, particularly in areas like voter accessibility, security personnel participation, and diaspora engagement.
The event underscored the ongoing commitment of Yiaga Africa to promote democratic governance and active citizen participation in the electoral process, while also encouraging dialogue on how such innovations can enhance the integrity and effectiveness of Nigeria’s own electoral institutions.