International Development Grant
Electoral Commission Training for Candidates and Polling Agents
Project Number: CA-3-A033634001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $2,500,000.00
Start Date: June 30, 2008
End Date: December 31, 2010
Duration: 2.5 years
Project Description
This project aimed to support the December 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections by funding a training initiative that the Electoral Commission undertook for candidates and polling agents in the elections. The training focused on better informing these key actors of their roles and responsibilities during a national election. A new government was elected in December 2008 Ghana’s fifth consecutive democratic elections and its second peaceful transition between rival political parties since 1992. This achievement was noted across the continent and has led other African nations to look to Ghana for assistance with their own elections. The support that CIDA has provided through this and previous elections support interventions has contributed in tangible ways to Ghana’s success in this area.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (July 2010) include: 1) Supporting a major training initiative by Ghana’s Electoral Commission in anticipation of the 2008 national elections. This initiative helped the Commission to develop and publish 225 000 copies of its “Guidelines for Candidates and Polling Agents ” which informed presidential and parliamentary candidates and their polling agents on requirements and processes for filing nominations the importance of polling agents’ watchdog role in the electoral process and included a checklist of Do’s and Don’ts for polling agents. 2) 23 workshops on the electoral process including how to protect the integrity of the electoral process were attended by 821 men and 90 women parliamentary candidates. 3) Two complementary training activities were also conducted for political party polling agents and independent candidates on promoting transparent and accountable electoral processes rights and obligations of polling agents and the importance of responsible/peaceful behaviour at polling stations. The first was a training of trainers workshop attended by 792 male and 36 female polling agent trainers nationally who in turn conducted training at the district level; and the second provided direct training to polling agents. A total of 4 552 training sessions were conducted for 181 079 male and 29 153 female polling agents. 4) Validation workshop on the legal and institutional framework for district was held as part of the consultation process towards creating the appropriate framework and subsequent district level elections. Twenty participants took part in the programme with 8 being women. The Commission as the host of the programme was fully represented by all members including the Headquarters Directors. 5) The Electoral Commision also presented a Memorandum to the minister of Local Government and Rural Development. The subject matter was changes to the legal and institutional framework for District Level Elect
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Government of Ghana
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP