By John Ikani
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, has dispatched a team of 40 observers to Togo ahead of the legislative and regional elections set for April 29, 2024.
In a statement released on Sunday, the regional bloc emphasized that this mission adheres to Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, underscoring ECOWAS’ unwavering support for its Member States during election periods.
Leading the mission is Mrs. Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice-President of The Gambia.
The observer group consists of Ambassadors from ECOWAS Member States, representatives from the ECOWAS Court of Justice and Parliament, Civil Society Organisations, media professionals, and election specialists from across West Africa, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
This deployment follows recommendations made by a pre-election fact-finding mission that visited Togo from April 15 to 20, 2024, aimed at assessing the readiness of the electoral process.
Throughout their stay in Togo, the observation team will engage in consultations with various stakeholders involved in the electoral process and meticulously monitor voting procedures leading up to April 29, 2024.