News:
September 27, 2021
Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Hon Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis said his fact-finding team that visited Cape Verde in view of their upcoming October 17, 2021 presidential election is satisfied with preparations so far, having met with most of the major stakeholders.
According to him, the team observed some challenges, but which he described as normal and expressed hope that with the support of election observers in the sub-region, “we would have a free and fair election”.
At a press conference on Friday, September 24, 2021 as part of concluding their mission, the speaker indicated that the team learnt that but for challenges in their registration process, more citizens in the diaspora would have been registered, “what one of the presidential candidates was saying was that they had challenges in their registration process, we as ECOWAS would now take that on board because we did not know about it”.
Dr. Tunis gave assurance that, in future elections, whatever support is need by Cape Verde, ECOWAS would assist them to ensure that there is a thorough registration process of its citizens, especially those in the diaspora, since elections are also held for those in the diaspora.
He further explained that the team was able to interact with three of the presidential candidates who gave assurance of supporting the democratic process lose or win to ensure peaceful transfer of power, stating that they are “ready to accept the will of the people of Cape Verde as they very much believe in peace and security of the country”.
He noted that it was on the basis of these that the team is confident and concluded that there would be free, fair and transparent elections that would be followed by a smooth democratic transition.
The fact-finding team also visited the Speaker who is currently the acting president, the electoral commission, and the constitutional court.
Rt. Hon Speaker Tunis noted further that since Cape Verde is part of ECOWAS, there would be observers from the institution to observe the election thoroughly through the Island. “We had a lengthy discussion, we met with the justice of the constitutional court and we are encouraged by what we heard from them at the institution, they are much on alert and very ready for the election”, he said.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com