The Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), Fabio Bargiacchi, paid a courtesy call on the National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) at the NESTF Press Centre today.
During the visit, he highlighted the work of ECES, a non-profit private foundation established in 2010 to support democratic and electoral processes worldwide.
The foundation, he noted, was created in collaboration with African colleagues, with its first president being the late former chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bargiacchi emphasized ECES’s close partnership with electoral management bodies and explained the organization’s role in supporting the deployment of the Women’s Branch of the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA).
This association, whose permanent secretariat is hosted by Ghana’s Electoral Commission, is actively involved in advancing the participation of women in electoral management across Africa.
Expressing gratitude to the Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, for the invitation, Bargiacchi praised Ghana’s preparations for the upcoming December 7 general elections.
“This important event provides an opportunity for nine representatives of African electoral commissions to exchange comparative experiences, learn from Ghana’s electoral processes, and show solidarity with Chairperson Mensa and her team,” he stated.
The delegation comprised representatives from Ethiopia, Togo, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Gabon, and other nations.
Bargiacchi highlighted that the mission, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented with the African Union, is part of a broader initiative known as “peer review solidarity missions.”
These missions enable African electoral management bodies to observe and learn from each other’s experiences while fostering mutual support.
He also acknowledged the significance of the Women’s Branch of the AAEA, which held its inaugural meeting in August 2024.
The initiative underscores the importance of enhancing women’s roles in electoral processes across Africa, and ECES is committed to supporting such efforts.
During his remarks, Bargiacchi commended Ghana for its longstanding commitment to democracy and stability since 1992.
“Ghana has set an example for the region and the continent, demonstrating how democratic practices can be successfully implemented and upheld,” he noted.
The delegation expressed appreciation for the comprehensive preparations undertaken by Ghana’s Electoral Commission, from the national headquarters to the regional and local levels.
Bargiacchi concluded by reiterating ECES’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s democratic journey and wished the country success in the upcoming elections.
He further thanked Chairperson Jean Mensa for her leadership and for extending solidarity to electoral commissions across Africa.
The Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), Fabio Bargiacchi, paid a courtesy call on the National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) at the NESTF Press Centre today.
During the visit, he highlighted the work of ECES, a non-profit private foundation established in 2010 to support democratic and electoral processes worldwide.
The foundation, he noted, was created in collaboration with African colleagues, with its first president being the late former chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bargiacchi emphasized ECES’s close partnership with electoral management bodies and explained the organization’s role in supporting the deployment of the Women’s Branch of the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA).
This association, whose permanent secretariat is hosted by Ghana’s Electoral Commission, is actively involved in advancing the participation of women in electoral management across Africa.
Expressing gratitude to the Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, for the invitation, Bargiacchi praised Ghana’s preparations for the upcoming December 7 general elections.
“This important event provides an opportunity for nine representatives of African electoral commissions to exchange comparative experiences, learn from Ghana’s electoral processes, and show solidarity with Chairperson Mensa and her team,” he stated.
The delegation comprised representatives from Ethiopia, Togo, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Gabon, and other nations.
Bargiacchi highlighted that the mission, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented with the African Union, is part of a broader initiative known as “peer review solidarity missions.”
These missions enable African electoral management bodies to observe and learn from each other’s experiences while fostering mutual support.
He also acknowledged the significance of the Women’s Branch of the AAEA, which held its inaugural meeting in August 2024.
The initiative underscores the importance of enhancing women’s roles in electoral processes across Africa, and ECES is committed to supporting such efforts.
During his remarks, Bargiacchi commended Ghana for its longstanding commitment to democracy and stability since 1992.
“Ghana has set an example for the region and the continent, demonstrating how democratic practices can be successfully implemented and upheld,” he noted.
The delegation expressed appreciation for the comprehensive preparations undertaken by Ghana’s Electoral Commission, from the national headquarters to the regional and local levels.
Bargiacchi concluded by reiterating ECES’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s democratic journey and wished the country success in the upcoming elections.
He further thanked Chairperson Jean Mensa for her leadership and for extending solidarity to electoral commissions across Africa.
