The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) alongside six other eminent members of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) are to monitor the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Ghana.

NBA National Publicity Secretary, Muritala Abdulrasheed in a statement in Lagos, yesterday, said "other members of the Commonwealth Observer Group to monitor Ghana elections, which will be led by Baroness Valerie Amos, former leader of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth Secretary - General Kamalesh Sharma, are Ms Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Lecturer and Member of the Constitution Reform Commission, University of West Indies, St. Lucia; Ms Sarika Katoch, Commonwealth Regional Youth Caucus Representative, India; Mr. Simon Clarke, Election Expert, United Kingdom; Commissioner Algassimu Sahid Jarr, Commissioner, National Electoral Commission, Sierra Leone; and Mr. Gary (Guerin) Ouellet, Former Canadian Returning Officer, Canada".

The elections, according to the statement, are scheduled to take place on December 7, 2008. The Observers will be in Ghana from November 29, to December 15, 2008.

Announcing the composition of the COG, Mr. Sharma said that "the mandate of the Group is to determine in its own judgement whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Ghana has committed itself, with reference to national election-related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments."

"This is a particularly important election for Ghana. With President Kufour stepping down after serving his two terms, there would be a new elected leader in Ghana, regardless of the outcome of the elections. The Commonwealth looks forward to a peaceful and orderly election process, in which all parties have the opportunity to participate fully", Sharma added "

He said that the country's development in recent years has been made possible because of the political stability the country enjoys, and that, as such, it is essential that this is maintained and improved.

The forthcoming election will be the fifth since Ghana's return to multiparty democracy in 1992.

The COG has been constituted at the invitation of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. It follows an Assessment Mission in October 2008.

The Assessment Mission established that there exists broad support from political parties and civil society for the presence of Commonwealth Observers. The Mission also concluded that there will be full freedom of movement for Observers, and that they will enjoy access to all stages of the process - which is vital if they are to make judgments on its credibility.