Guinea Bissau / Elections / Communique by the Economic Community of West Africa States Commission

 

 

 

Guinea Bissau / Elections / Communique by the Economic Community of West Africa States Commission

 

 

BISSAU, Guinea Bissau, November 18, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In accordance with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good

Governance A/SP1/12/01, the President of the Economic Community of

West Africa States Commission constituted a team to observe the

Legislative elections held on 16 November 2008 in Guinea Bissau.

A total of forty-five distinguished ECOWAS Citizens led by His

Excellency Leopold OUEDRAOGO, Member, ECOWAS Council of the Wise

participated in the exercise.

 

ECOWAS Observers were briefed by the various stakeholders and observed

the final rounds of campaign. They were deployed to various parts of

the country and observed the opening and closing of polls, as well as

the counting and collation exercise.

 

On the basis of the information supplied by our observers we hereby

make the following conclusions:

•    The electoral commission made adequate preparations for

the election;

•    The campaigns were conducted in a festive and colourful

but, calm, civil and serene atmosphere;

•    Voter turnout was highly impressive;

•    Although voters were enthusiastic, they conducted

themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner;

•    Election officials displayed an admirable level of

competence;

•    Voting was done in accordance with internationally

accepted practice;

•    Voting was peaceful and free and the counting was

transparent.

•    Among the few pitfalls were the late arrival of the

election materials at Bissora and the late supply of indelible ink in

some polling stations. But these had very little effect on the overall

conduct of the electoral process.

 

ECOWAS Commission congratulates the Electoral Commission of Bissau for

a job well done. ECOWAS Commission also congratulates the people of

Guinea Bissau for their commitment to the ideals of democracy. We wish

to place on record the excellent quality of cooperation and assistance

that we received from United Nation Office Guinea Bissau.

 

Done in hotel Lobato

Guinea Bissau, 17 November 2008

 

SOURCE : Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)