Akufo-Addo Leads Commonwealth Observer Team for Bangladesh Polls
Former Ghanaian President heads high-level mission to assess credibility and transparency ahead of February 12 parliamentary election and referendum
- Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is chairing the Commonwealth Observer Group to monitor Bangladesh’s parliamentary election
- The Observer Group has begun consultations with political parties, civil society, media
- his assignment marks one of Akufo-Addo’s first major international engagements since leaving office in January 2025
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is leading a Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election and referendum, scheduled for February 12, 2026.
Akufo-Addo, heading the high-level mission, is tasked with assessing pre-poll preparations, stakeholder engagement, and Bangladesh’s overall readiness for voting day.
In a Facebook post, Akufo-Addo confirmed his arrival in Dhaka on Sunday, February 8, noting that the Observer Group had already begun preliminary consultations with key political and civil society actors.
“Arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to observe pre-poll arrangements ahead of the country’s Parliamentary Election and Referendum on February 12. The group has met with representatives of the media, civil society, youth and women’s groups, political parties, and other stakeholders,” he wrote.
These engagements are a critical part of the Commonwealth’s election observation process, providing the team with direct insight into Bangladesh’s political and electoral landscape and helping evaluate the credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness of the process.
Akufo-Addo’s role underscores his ongoing commitment to international diplomacy and democratic governance following his presidency. During his time as Ghana’s President, he was active in regional and global affairs, promoting democracy, constitutional governance, and multilateral cooperation through bodies such as the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Commonwealth.
The Observer Group will remain in Bangladesh through election day and the immediate post-election period to monitor voting, counting, and results collation.
Akufo-Addo officially handed over office on January 7, 2025, after serving two terms as Ghana’s President. This assignment marks one of his first major international engagements since leaving office.
