ECONEC to build capacity of Guinea’s electoral body

The Economic Community of West African States Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) has pledged to build the capacity of the Guinea’s Territorial Administration and Decentralization Ministry to enhance credible election in Guinea.

This was disclosed when a delegation of the body led by the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu visited Guinea.

Receiving the delegation, the Secretary General of Guinea’s Territorial Administration and Decentralization Ministry, Dr. Yamori Conde assured the visiting delegation that the Ministry is working with other stakeholders under a Technical Follow-up Committee to resolve issues related to the disputed results of the country’s municipal elections held on the 4th February 2018.

The disputes involving results of 12 constituencies, which are before the court have stalled local administration in Guinea’s 342 Administrative Districts.

Receiving Prof Yakubu’s eighth-member delegation in Conakry on behalf of the Minister, Dr Conde said the issue would be resolved to ensure the inauguration of elected candidates in 330 constituencies, while the court address the cases of the disputed 12 in accordance with the law.

The Ministry plays a major role in Guinea’s electoral process, including the registration of political parties, coordination of civil society organisations and general administration at national and local levels. The country has parliamentary polls in 2019 and a crucial presidential vote in 2020.

The inconclusive municipal elections and other issues related to the recommendations of the ECOWAS observation mission to Guinea’s 2015 presidential election have featured in consultations between Guinea’s political stakeholders and Prof Yabubu’s delegation, including Prof Emmanuel Tiando, ECONEC First Vice President and Chair of Benin Republic Electoral Commission, on a Post-Election Follow-up Mission (PEFM) to Guinea.

Prof Yakubu urged the stakeholders including Guinea’s Electoral Commission (CENI), civil society organisations; ruling and opposition political parties represented at the National Assembly and development partners to work towards effective implementation of the recommendations.

The recommendations include cleaning up the vote register, reform of CENI to make it more technical and professional, reform of the legal framework to address issues related to the use of envelopes for ballot papers and transmission of election results.

The ECONEC president explained that the implementation of the recommendations would ensure a political level playing field to enable CENI deliver credible elections for the deepening of democratic culture in the country.

He explained that the achievement of such goals would impact positively on the quest for credible elections and consolidation of democracy in the ECOWAS regions.

Prof Mahmood promised that ECONEC would support capacity strengthening of CENI and also appealed to external partners for necessary support in line with ECONEC’s mandate of assisting its members to live up to their responsibilities.