Across Africa, citizen election observers continue to protect democracy as civic space comes under pressure.
However, their work is becoming more challenging as the forces shaping elections extend far beyond what happens at the ballot box. Democracy is also influenced by money and technology. When these forces are misused, elections become less about voters’ choices and more about who can afford to influence them.
The third Electoral Integrity in Africa Summit themed ”Money, Technology & Civic Rights: Defending Electoral Integrity in Africa”, organised by the African Election Observers Network (AfEONet) together with the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana) and the West Africa Election Observers Network from 23 to 24 September in Accra (Ghana) will bring together election observers, civil society, and democracy experts to explore these challenges and identify practical solutions to safeguard electoral integrity from financial and digital threats.
Confirm your participation (in-person or virtual) by 18 September 2026.
The programme will be available soon.
Programme and more
Venue: Fiesta Royale Hotel (Cedar Hall), Accra, Ghana
8:00 – 9:00 Arrival & Registration
9:00 – 11:00 Welcome Remarks
- Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director, CDD-Ghana
- Jonathan Claes, Deputy Head EU Delegation to Ghana
- Rev. Fred Deegbe, Co-chair, CODEO
- Rev. James Lahai, Chairperson, WAEON/AfEONet
- Samuel Dottoh Kwaah, Director of Electoral Services, Electoral Commission of Ghana
- Dr. Monono Eyole, Chair of Political Affairs Cluster, AU ECOSOCC
- Samuel Atuobi, Senior Political/Elections Officer Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, AU PAPS
- Serigne Mamadou Ka, Head of Electoral Assistance Division, ECOWAS (online)
- Keynote address: Bishop Emanuel Kofi Fianu, Chairman, Ghana National Peace Council
- Official opening: Jonathan Gador, Coordinator of the National Anti-Corruption Programme, Office of the President of Ghana
- Director of ceremony: Beatrice Adu, Media General Ghana
11:00 – 11:30 Group Photo & Tea Break
11:30 – 13:00 Opening Session: Examining the multiple threats to democratic governance and shaping new solutions
Africa’s democracy faces growing pressure from shrinking civic space, restrictive electoral laws, money politics, low youth participation, and digital threats. As the Summit’s curtain-raiser, this session explores how these forces constrain citizen election observation, distort political competition, and undermine inclusive digital participation and public trust.
- Dr. Sarah Bireete, Chair, GNDEM/E-HORN (online)
- AbdiKhayr Hussein, Executive Director, Bareedo Platform Somalia
- Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa
- Richard Klein, Global Director Elections Program, NDI
- Kohnemie M’meta, Accountability Lab Malawi
- Moderator: Khawla Benyahya, UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 16:00 Breakout sessions
Breakout 1: Solutions to Challenges of Citizen Election Observation in Closed Civic Spaces (Fishbowl)
Drawing on AfEONet’s State of Civic Space for Citizen Election Observers in Africa report, this session explores how restrictive laws, accreditation barriers, intimidation, surveillance, disinformation and funding constraints are shrinking space for citizen election observation. Observers from restricted civic spaces will share lessons and resilience strategies, focusing on practical ways to protect observer independence, strengthen safeguards, counter threats and build regional solidarity.
- Mamoudou Baro Conde, President, Bloggers Association
- Abel Eseru, Programme Officer, AfEONet
- Peter Mwanangombe, Program Director, CCMG Zambia
- Kseniia Telmavnova, Political campaign analyst and independent observer, EPDE
- Moderator: Ellen Dingani, Programmes Director, ESN-SA
Breakout 2: Continental Norms, Practices and Collective Action for Electoral Integrity (Fishbowl)
This session explores how shared African norms, standards and good practices can strengthen electoral integrity. It will highlight lessons, promote peer learning and identify opportunities for greater coordination, mutual support and collective action to advance credible, inclusive elections and democratic resilience.
- Samuel Atuobi, Senior Political/Elections Officer Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, AU DEU
- Hon. Kwami Edem Senanu, Chairperson, AU ABC
- Dr. Monono Eyole, Chairperson Sector Cluster Committee on Political Affairs, AU ECOSOCC
- Alexis Niyonzima Ntaco, Head of the Election, Democratic Governance and Human Rights Department, ECCAS
- Mariama Toure, Programme Officer, ECOWAS
- Moderator: Andrew Songa, Regional Advisor – African Union Engagement, EPD
16:00 – 17:00 Session 1: Good Practices for Accreditation of Nonpartisan Citizen Election Observers in Africa
Civic space for citizen election observers is shrinking across Africa through restrictive laws, administrative barriers, intimidation and surveillance. Building on the curtain-raiser, this plenary draws on AfEONet’s findings and field experience to assess these challenges, identify what works, and develop practical strategies to protect civic space, strengthen citizen election observation, and advance democratic participation.
- Habibou Daou, Country Director, Accountability Lab Mali
- Nancy Kankam Kusi, Programme Officer, WACSI
- Rev James Lahai, Coordinator, National Election Watch Sierra Leone
- Florence Nakazibwe, Senior Legal Advisor Africa, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (online)
- Moderator: Chimwemwe Kasakula, Accountability Lab Malawi
17:00 – 18:00 Launch of the Central African Regional Network of Election Observers: ROCiDAC
- Rev. James Lahai, Chairperson, AfEONet/NEW Sierra Leone
- Gombo Breye Houzibe, Coordinator, ROCiDAC
- Alexis Niyonzima Ntaco, ECCAS
- Ambassador Rune Skinnebach, European Union Delegation to Ghana
- Moderator: Faustin Ndong Ntoutoume, ROCiDAC
Please note that the programme is subject to change up until the date of the event.
Venue: Fiesta Royale Hotel (Cedar Hall), Accra, Ghana
8:00 – 9:00 Arrival & Registration
9:00 – 10:00 Session 2: Young People and Other Special Interest Groups are Stepping up for Democracy: But are Systems Letting them in?
This session will explore practical ways to strengthen youth inclusion through electoral and political reforms, digital engagement, accessible political finance and youth leadership—positioning young people as co-creators of democratic innovation and electoral integrity.This session is supported by Digital Democracy Initiative as part of Digitalise Youth and AHEAD Africa projects.
- Safiya Bichi, Senior Manager, Yiaga Africa
- Ntein Nadine Bindey, EWER Monitor Cameroon
- Nina Efedi Okoroafor, Senior and Social Development Officer, Senior and Social Development Officer, Ghana Blind Union
- Jibi Moses, Researcher/Fact Checker, Excellence Foundation for South Sudan
- Robert Majige, Policy & Civic Tech Lead, Accountability Lab Tanzania
- Moderator: Vera Addo, Program Officer, CDD-Ghana
10:00 – 11:00 Session 3: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Manipulation and Information Disorder in Elections: Launch of Report of Uptake of AI by EMBs in Africa
AI is reshaping elections across Africa—opening new possibilities while creating new threats. From deepfakes and disinformation to surveillance and cyberattacks, this session will explore how to harness technology while protecting electoral integrity, digital rights and public trust, and advancing an African approach to responsible AI in democracy.
- Rabiu Alhassan, FactSpace
- Seray M. Jah, Regional Director in Africa, IFES
- Nirali Patel, Code for Africa
- Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa
- David Sohou, African Citizen Lab Benin
- Moderator: Mamadou Diagne, Africtivistes
11:00 – 11:30 Tea Break
11:30 – 13:00 Session 4: Showcasing Best Practices in Promoting Electoral Integrity
An interactive marketplace of ideas, tools and proven practices strengthening electoral integrity across Africa. Through demonstrations and peer exchange, participants will explore what works, what can be adapted, and how successful solutions can be replicated across different electoral contexts.
- Stefanie Schiffer, European Platform for Democratic Elections
- Peter Mwanagombe, Christian Churches Monitoring Group
- Nicola Schmidt, Democracy Reporting International
- George K. Ofosu, London School of Economics
- Alioune Badara Mbengue, ANDAKIA
- Courtney Hess, National Democratic Institute
- Moderator: Mulle Musau, East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:30 Session 5: Money, Power and Elections: Confronting the Financing of Politics in Africa
Building on the July 2026 Accra convening, this session will advance efforts toward an African Model Law on Political Finance Transparency. It will examine money’s influence on elections, strengthen transparency and accountability, and explore African-led solutions to political finance, state capture and illicit financial flows.
- Hon. Kwami Edem Senanu, African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption
- Mary Awelana Addah, Transparency International Ghana
- Malick Fall, Open Society Foundations
- Henry Muguzi, African Election Observers Network
- Zofia Lutkiewicz, European Platform for Democratic Elections
- Moderator: Marcus Ageng’a, East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network
15:30 – 17:00 Presentation and Adoption of the 2026 Accra Communiqué
17:00 – 17:30 Closing Remarks
Please note that the programme is subject to change up until the date of the event.
Get to know all speakers!
Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, formerly the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and a governance and anti-corruption expert with over two decades of experience. Her expertise spans public integrity, public financial management, political finance, social accountability, right to information, institutional reform and civic participation. She serves as Civil Society Co-Chair of Ghana’s Open Government Partnership Steering Committee, Chair of the Right to Information Coalition and Co-Chair of the Civil Society Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals. She also contributes to national anti-corruption policy through the NEACAP and other Committee. Mrs Addah has represented civil society in high-level national and international policy engagements and is recognised for building effective coalitions, translating evidence into practical reforms and advancing accountable, inclusive and ethical governance.
Programme Officer at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), leading work on elections, the rule of law, and anti-corruption. She coordinates the Center’s Parliamentary and Youth Desks and serves as a project coordinator for the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), where she helped oversee the 2024 nationwide observation mission. A regular contributor to public discussions on governance, Vera is a strong advocate for youth participation, electoral integrity, and accountable institutions in Ghana.
Elections, Governance, Climate and Human Rights expert with over 14 years of cumulative experience in electoral and climate governance, capacity building, and program management. He is currently Head of Programs at the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), in charge of governance and electoral processes in Kenya and the East and Horn of Africa region. He is also a part‑time lecturer, teaching elections, democracy, and human rights at various learning institutions. At ELOG — which also serves as the Permanent Secretariat for E‑HORN — he coordinates programs and projects that promote democratic, peaceful, and credible elections in Kenya and the E‑HORN region, through supporting and strengthening domestic election observer groups, Election Management Bodies, election duty bearers, and institutions.
Media and digital strategy expert with about 2 decades of experience working across media channels and is currently invested in designing products at the intersection of technology and journalism, with a focus on information disorder. As the Executive Director of FactSpace West Africa, he leads initiatives that promote information integrity across the region, leveraging technology, media partnerships, and digital literacy programmes. Rabiu has collaborated with organizations such as WHO, UNESCO, USAID, UNICEF, Meedan, ECOWAS, Africa Check, Google News Initiative, DW Akademie, and IFCN, among other INGOs to strengthen information resilience. Passionate about media innovation and civic engagement, he is committed to promoting a digital age that fosters trust, ensuring access to credible information, empowering vulnerable members of the public, and promoting transparency in public discourse across West Africa.
Leads the programmes team at Penplusbytes, a civic tech not-for-profit organisation in Accra. Precious’s scope of work at Penplusbytes involves leading a team of project managers, programmers, designers, and other experts to deliver innovative projects from ideation to evaluation. She is an astute certified programme manager and communications expert with a Master’s in Communications Studies from the University of Ghana. She is also a certified Deutsche Welle Akademie media, information literacy, and digital security trainer of trainers. She has managed the information integrity project wing at Penplusbytes since 2019 and has led the implementation of innovative interventions in that field, including platform builds, awareness campaigns, research, convenings, and trainings.
Governance and democratic resilience practitioner with extensive experience across the United Nations, African Union, development cooperation and regional institutions. She currently works with the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa in Addis Ababa, supporting regional initiatives on democratic governance and electoral processes. Her previous experience with UNDP in Dakar focused on local governance, institutional resilience, conflict prevention and community resilience across the Sahel and West Africa. She has participated in African Union election observation missions and contributed to regional policy and peacebuilding initiatives involving youth, women and local communities. Her research interests include democratic resilience, electoral governance, citizen participation, institutional trust and inclusive governance in Africa.
Statistician and civic leader with over a decade of experience advancing youth development, democratic inclusion, and good governance. She is Senior Manager at Yiaga Africa, leading research on the legislature, elections, political participation, and social accountability, while overseeing program monitoring and evaluation. An alumna of the University of Jos (B.Sc. Mathematics), Ahmadu Bello University (M.Sc. Statistics), and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), she is also a YALI TechCamp Fellow and active member of key electoral reform coalitions. Safiya partners with institutions across Africa to strengthen electoral processes and democratic governance.
Young professional specialising in policy analysis and communications. She works with Civic Watch Cameroon, where she supports evidence-based advocacy, civic protection, digital safety, open-source intelligence (OSINT), early warning and political developments. Her role involves conducting early-warning analyses of the threats that commonly undermine democratic stability. Nadine’s reporting focuses on source-verified analysis, clearly distinguishing documented facts from unconfirmed hypotheses, and translating that analysis into concrete early-response recommendations for community protection, rapid-response mechanisms, and information-vulnerability monitoring.
Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), a Kampala-based constitutional watchdog. She chairs the Global Network for Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), the East and Horn of Africa Election Observer Network (EHORN), and the East Africa Civil Society Forum (EACSOF). A lawyer by profession with a Doctorate in Humanities (Civic Engagement), she serves on several organizational and educational boards. Her expertise spans governance, constitutionalism, elections, human rights, civic space, land rights, public interest litigation, and conflict transformation.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ghana, and head of the political section. Before joining the EU Delegation in Ghana, Claes worked for the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, including as Head of the Conflict Prevention Team. Earlier in his career, he spent around a decade at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), working on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and election violence prevention. Claes holds a Master in Security Studies from Georgetown University, and is author of the book “Electing Peace: Violence Prevention and Impact at the Polls”.
Acteur de la société civile guinéenne engagé dans la Civic Tech, l’innovation technologique et la participation citoyenne des jeunes. Je préside actuellement l’Association des Blogueurs de Guinée (ABLOGUI), où je conçois et coordonne des programmes et projets qui mettent le numérique et les données citoyennes au service de la transparence, de la participation citoyenne, de la redevabilité et de l’ouverture des données. Mon parcours dans la Civic Tech s’est notamment construit autour de Lahidi, une plateforme citoyenne de suivi et d’évaluation des engagements du Président de la République de Guinée et de son Gouvernement, où j’ai travaillé pendant sept ans, principalement sur la collecte, le traitement et l’analyse des données. J’ai également contribué à #GuinéeVote, une initiative d’information et d’observation citoyenne des élections, que j’ai coordonnée en 2025. Depuis son lancement en 2015, GuinéeVote a couvert trois élections présidentielles et une élection communale en Guinée, mobilisant à chaque scrutin près de 500 jeunes e-observateurs à travers le pays pour documenter les incidents électoraux, faire remonter en temps réel les informations sur le déroulement du processus dans leurs localités, analyser les données collectées sur le terrain et assurer le suivi de la désinformation électorale.
Project Manager, media development specialist, and certified fact-checker specialising in information integrity and digital verification. As Project Manager at The Clarity Desk under the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan, he led the Electoral Fact-Checking Initiative in South Sudan, building technical and editorial frameworks to combat electoral misinformation and hate speech. A former associate editor at 211 Check and an African Union Media Fellow (2023–2025), Jibi has trained with Africa Check, Code for Africa, DFRLab, and the IFCN. He focuses on leveraging open-source intelligence, artificial intelligence and civic technology to safeguard truth and strengthen democratic processes across Africa.
Minister in the Ghana Baptist Convention and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) in Ghana. Since joining CODEO in 2002, he has observed almost every election in Ghana, including by-elections, presidential and parliamentary elections, and local-level elections. He has also been involved in advocacy programmes for electoral reforms aimed at promoting electoral integrity in Ghana. Before becoming Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of CODEO, he served in various capacities within the organisation, including chairing the Procurement Committee for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 general elections. He holds an LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) from the University of Ghana, completed his professional law course at the Ghana School of Law, and was called to the Ghana Bar. He also pursued ministerial studies, obtaining an M.Div. (Master of Divinity) and a D.Min. (Doctorate of Ministry). Throughout his career, Rev. Dr. Deegbe has served in various pastoral and ministerial capacities. He worked as a Chaplain at Baylor University Medical Center and lectured at Ghana Baptist Seminary. He served as President of the Ghana Baptist Convention and Chairman of its Denominational Board. From 2003 to 2013, he served as General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana. He has also served on several national and international boards, including the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the National Media Commission, the All-Africa Conference of Churches, and the Narcotics Control Board.
Country Director of Accountability Lab Mali, where he leads work to strengthen good governance, accountability and citizen participation. He has been with Accountability Lab for several years and previously served as Deputy Director. His work focuses on governance, civic participation, community-led approaches and supporting young leaders. He has represented Accountability Lab Mali in regional and international forums, including discussions on development financing and accountability mechanisms, and contributes to initiatives supporting youth leadership and democratic governance. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and has a background in project and team management and capacity building.
Senegalese computer engineer and a key member of the IT team at AfricTivistes, an organization promoting democracy and good governance through digital innovation. He leverages civic tech tools to enhance transparency and citizen participation across Africa. In addition to his IT role, he mentors participants in the #Innov4Democracy project—a hackathon that raises awareness of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (CADEG) and engages young activists, civil society actors, and media professionals in advancing democratic governance.
Senior elections, governance and gender specialist
with over 20 years of experience in election observation, electoral
reform, conflict prevention and women’s political participation. She
serves as Programmes Director at the Zimbabwe Election Support Network
and the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa. She has held
leadership and expert roles in more than 20 election observation and
assessment missions across Africa and beyond. Her experience includes
serving as a Core Team Leader, political analyst, long-term observer
coordinator, and gender and inclusion expert on several multilateral
missions.
A social development professional and social change catalyst advancing gender equality, disability rights, and youth empowerment. Her work centres on inclusive advocacy, gender-sensitive policy, youth leadership, and accessible programme design. She collaborates with human-rights organisations in Ghana, across Africa, and internationally to amplify marginalised voices and influence transformative policy and practice. Nina brings an intersectional, human-rights-based perspective to democratic participation, with expertise in research, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and social-impact assessment.
Electoral governance and democracy practitioner with over five years of experience in electoral reforms, civic engagement, campaign finance monitoring, and election observation. He currently works with Alliance for Finance Monitoring and AfEONet. His expertise spans electoral democracy, political financing, civic space, and youth engagement. A former Fellow of the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP) and member of the International Political Science Association’s Research Committee on Political Finance and Corruption.
Seasoned development practitioner with 15 years of experience in Africa’s philanthropy sector. His work centers on democratic governance, human rights, and economic and climate justice. He is the Program Manager for the Democratic Futures in Africa Program at the Open Society Foundations, based in Dakar, Senegal. Malick previously held key roles at Open Society Africa and OSIWA, advancing electoral integrity and economic justice initiatives across the continent. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Gaston Berger University, Senegal.
Ordained a Catholic priest in 1985 after studying Philosophy and Theology at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale. He later obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Exegesis from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He taught Biblical Science, Greek and Hebrew at St. Victor’s Major Seminary before serving as Secretary General of the Society of the Divine Word in Rome from 2006. Appointed Bishop of Ho in 2015, he was ordained and installed that October. He has served on Ghana’s National Peace Council since 2016 and was elected its Chairman in 2025. He is also Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, a position he has held since 2022 and was re-elected to in 2024.
National Coordinator of the National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NEACAP) Secretariat at the Office of the President of Ghana; he also doubles as the Policy and Research Coordinator for the National Anti-Corruption Programme. He currently leads and coordinates the work of the NEACAP Secretariat overseeing the coordination and implementation of Ghana’s national anti-corruption strategy across Government, inter-institutional collaboration, performance management, resource mobilisation, UNCAC obligations, stakeholder engagement and strategic reporting. He also served as the Coordinator of the Technical Working Group that developed the NEACAP 2026–2030 document, playing a central role in coordinating the policy, institutional, legislative and technical inputs that informed the development of the Plan. In his previous role as Policy and Research Coordinator, he coordinated research, policy development, legislative reviews and strategic engagements supporting the National Anti-Corruption Programme. He served as Ghana’s focal person for the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) review process. Jonathan brings to his current role extensive experience in policy and strategy, institutional coordination, governance and anti-corruption reform, complemented by more than two decades of private-sector leadership.
Editor for Dubawa Ghana, with editorial supervision over Dubawa Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia offices. I have a little over two decades of journalism experience, most of which was spent at the Multimedia Group Ltd, which is Ghana’s foremost private commercial media institution. There, I rose to become the Assisting Editor at Myjoyonline.com which is the online platform of the Multimedia Group. I also served briefly as the Director of Public Relations and Communications at the Royal Commonwealth Society Ghana Office. I have a Masters in Communications at the Department of Communications Studies, University of Ghana. I also belong to a number of Professional Groups, including the Institute of Public Relations Ghana.
Deputy Regional Director for Southern and East Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), providing leadership, guidance, and support to the Institute’s programs on election integrity, accountability, and citizen participation in the region. Before this role, Courtney served as Program Director for Southern and East Africa, focusing on the Institute’s programs in Malawi, Sudan, and Zambia. Previously, she spent more than a decade supporting democracy and governance programs in West Africa. As a member of NDI’s Central and West Africa team, Courtney supported citizen observation, civic participation, political party, and international election observation programs, including in the DRC, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
A Chadian national, he has been a human rights and pro-democracy activist since 2006. Since 2018, he has served as Coordinator of the organisation “Alternatives Citoyennes”. Gombo is also Rapporteur General of OAPET (Observatory of Associations on Electoral Processes in Chad) and Executive Coordinator of the Network of Citizen Organisations for the Consolidation of Democracy in Central Africa (ROCiDAC).
Peace and climate justice activist, participatory democracy advocate, 2022 Bertha Fellow, Peace Ambassador, and Rotary Positive Peace Activator with more than a decade of experience advancing peacebuilding, democratic participation, civic engagement, and climate justice across Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. He currently serves as Executive Director of Bareedo Platform Somalia, where he leads initiatives that strengthen inclusive civic participation, peacebuilding, democratic governance, and community resilience. Throughout his career, Mr. Hussein has worked extensively with Somali government institutions, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to design and implement programs that promote inclusive participation in peacebuilding, democracy, and climate action. Mr. Hussein also leads DoorashoKaab, an innovative civic technology platform designed to empower Somali citizens with accessible civic education, reliable voter and electoral information, and safe digital tools to learn, engage, participate, and report on electoral processes. His work is driven by a commitment to building inclusive, peaceful, democratic, and climate-resilient communities in Somalia.
Leading African democracy and electoral integrity practitioner and the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, a civic organization advancing democracy, citizen participation and accountable governance across Africa. He has extensive expertise in elections, electoral law, political inclusion, youth participation, social movements and democratic innovation. Samson is best known for his leadership of the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign, which contributed to lowering the age requirements for elective office in Nigeria and advancing youth political participation. He also serves on the boards of International IDEA and the Kofi Annan Foundation, and is Principal Partner at the Election Law Center. He holds degrees in Law from the University of Jos and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford.
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Regional Director for Africa and Country Director for Nigeria, providing strategic leadership on electoral assistance, democracy support, and institutional strengthening across the continent. He brings over 25 years of experience in electoral administration, democratic governance, institutional reform, strategic planning, and capacity development. Jah has held senior roles with IFES, the United Nations, UNDP, and UNOPS, and has provided technical leadership and advisory support to election management bodies in Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and Ethiopia. His work has focused on strengthening electoral institutions, improving election operations, voter education, and inclusive electoral processes. His international experience also includes electoral assignments with UN missions in Afghanistan, Sudan, and South Sudan, supporting elections in complex and post-conflict environments. He is recognized for expertise in electoral operations, democratic resilience, stakeholder engagement, training, and innovative election administration. Jah holds qualifications from the University of Sierra Leone, the Institute of Training and Development, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
Official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, serving as Head of the Electoral Assistance Division within the Directorate of Political Affairs, Peace and Security. His work focuses on supporting ECOWAS electoral assistance and observation activities across West Africa. He has played a technical role in ECOWAS electoral missions in several member states. In 2024, he supported the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission for Senegal’s legislative elections and was also part of the technical team supporting the organisation’s pre-election fact-finding mission to Ghana. In 2025, Ka led ECOWAS technical electoral missions in Guinea and participated in electoral consultations in Guinea-Bissau. He has also served as the technical contact for joint ECOWAS–African Union election observation missions, including the 2025 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ghanaian international development practitioner
and Programme Officer for Knowledge Management at the West Africa Civil
Society Institute, WACSI. She has extensive experience in development
research, organisational learning, knowledge management, and civil
society capacity strengthening. Through her work, she collaborates with
civil society organisations, networks, and development partners across Africa to advance citizen participation, accountability, community
philanthropy, and locally led development. Nancy has also played a key
role in initiatives focused on civic space, localisation and decolonising development practice, contributing to efforts that
strengthen the voice and agency of local actors in shaping development
outcomes.
NDI’s Director of Elections Programs. Klein is a global leader in promoting electoral integrity with over 30 years of experience building the capacity of local civic and faith-based organizations to observe elections, and organizing international observation missions. He has provided support for citizen observation efforts and international observer missions for more than 50 elections in over 25 countries around the world with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He supported the formation of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) and related drafting of the Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring; the development of the regional citizen observation network – the Election Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN SA); and capacity building for the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) to observe elections.
Sierra Leonean teacher, trade unionist, ordained minister, and civil society activist with nearly three decades of experience in election observation. He began observing elections in 1996 and co-founded the National Election Watch (NEW) in 2002, now the country’s largest election observation network with over 450 member organizations. Rev. Lahai serves as NEW’s National Coordinator, Chairperson of both the West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) and the Africa Election Observers Network (AfEONet), and is a former board member of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM). Widely recognized as an election expert, he is deeply committed to advancing credible, citizen-led election observation across Africa.
Democracy and civil society expert focused on electoral integrity and citizen engagement across Europe and globally. As President of the Political Accountability Foundation (PAF), she leads Poland’s non-partisan election observation efforts and promotes comprehensive electoral reform. She serves on the boards of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) where she works to tackle global threats to election integrity. Her experience advancing democracy and civil society development in Belarus, Russia, and Uzbekistan, including from the EU level, informs her strategic, values-driven approach grounded in non-partisanship, solidarity, and civic empowerment.
Fisherman, Tanzanian lawyer, digital governance and civic technology practitioner working at the intersection of law, technology, digital rights and democratic accountability. He serves as Policy & Civic Tech Lead at Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) and is an Accountapreneur in the ALESA Digital Governance Incubator. He was accredited for Tanzania’s 2024 biometric voter registration exercise and trained media practitioners and election observers ahead of the 2024 General Election. In 2025, he researched and written TMC’s Tanzania Internet Governance Series report on Information Integrity During the 2025 General Election and contributed to research documenting Tanzania’s six-day internet blackout during the election period. He currently leads CivicLens Tanzania, an ALESA-supported AI-powered civic media intelligence initiative seeking to strengthen citizen participation and government accountability through evidence generated from public-interest media and community concerns. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and holds an LL.B (Hons), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice and Diploma in Internet Governance.
Featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 2026 cover, is the founder and CEO of ANDAKIA, a Senegalese technology company developing artificial intelligence tailored to African realities. He leads AWA, a voice-AI platform expanding access to technology through African languages. Mbengue also leads Mapomo (Mapping Political Money), an open-source initiative developing tools to estimate campaign expenditure using digital advertising, political activity, financial relationships, and speech recognition across six African countries. Supported by the Open Society Foundations, Mapomo promotes greater transparency in political finance through open data, methods, and technology. He is also the author of Prospérité Symbiotique on AI and Africa’s development and co-inventor of Mbal-IT, a smart waste-management solution. His work has received international recognition, including awards from the Francophonie, NASA Space Apps Challenge, and Hub Africa.
Distinguished expert on Democracy and Elections in Africa. He is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), a pan-African political finance watchdog that promotes political finance integrity. He doubles as the coordinator of the African Election Observers Network (AfEONet). Henry specializes in transparency and accountability in political and electoral financing. He has authored seminal research papers on topics such as the “Commercialisation of Politics” and “Unregulated Campaign Spending,” showcasing his deep understanding of these critical issues.
Leadership consultant specialising in elections, ethics, and good governance, with extensive experience in election observation across Africa since 2006. He is the National Coordinator of Kenya’s Elections Observation Group (ELOG) and the Regional Coordinator of the East and Horn of Africa Election Observation Network (E-HORN). A founding member of AfEONet, he has worked with organizations like the Carter Center and NDI and trained with the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC). His expertise spans civil society leadership, ethical governance, electoral management, technology in elections, open data, and the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in electoral processes.
Elections analysist and expert with nine years of Zambia and Regional experience on elections and electoral processes, currently serves as Program Director at Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG). With a history in election projects since 2011. At CCMG, Peter oversees various electoral processes including Boundary Delimitation Voter Registration, and Mobile NRC Issuance monitoring as well as monitoring parliamentary and local government elections. Peter has served on several International Election Observation Missions as an STO. He’s a trained facilitator, advocate of human rights, electoral democracy, and good governance, having co-authored a chapter on Civil and Political Rights in the publication “A Revolution Revisited”. Additionally, he contributes as Trustee on the Bloggers of Zambia Board. He is currently pursuing a Master of Electoral Policy and Administration and serves as the Deputy Spokesperson for the Electoral Reform Technical Committee-Zambia.
Political Scientist and governance practitioner whose work focuses on youth political participation, digital governance, accountability, democratic governance and electoral integrity. She is the founder of a civic technology and digital governance initiative called Mzinda OpenGov, incubated under Accountability Lab East and Southern Africa, that works to close the gap between young people and the local decision-making forums that shape their lives. She is also the Executive Director of EYAL (Empowering Youth for Action and Leadership), a youth-led organization anchoring this initiative. She currently serves as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Politics and Government at the University of Malawi’s School of Law, Economics and Governance, and her research agenda examines representation, youth exclusion, and civic participation across Sub-Saharan Africa. She contributed to the preparations and monitoring of the EU-backed election observation mission in Malawi’s 2025 general elections through her work with the EU Delegation to Malawi’s Political, Press and Information Section.
Holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Buea, An M.Sc. in Anthropology from the University of Buea, Masters in International Relations from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC) Yaounde. Dr. Monono, is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Buea. Dr. Monono is the Chair, Political Affairs at the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), His Cluster Committee examines and provide advisory opinion to the African Union on issues of Human Rights & Rule of Law, Democratic and Constitutional Rule, Good Governance, Electoral Institutions, Humanitarian Affairs. Dr. Monono is serving as the Programme Director at the Centre for Research on Democracy and Development in Africa (CEREDDA), He led CEREDDA International Observer Mission to the Central African Republic July 30th, 2023 Referendum. He has equally been the Head of Mission for CEREDDA National Observer Mission in 6 Elections in Cameroon since 2018.
Senior Legal Advisor for Africa at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), where she advises governments, civil society organizations, and regional institutions on legal and policy frameworks affecting civic space, democratic governance, and public participation. She leads research on civic space trends across Africa and specializes in civil society legal reforms, constitutional democracy, and the protection of civil liberties. Previously, Florence served as a Legal Officer with the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Uganda, supporting legislative and policy reforms and strengthening the capacity of government institutions, legislators, and civil society on international and regional human rights standards. She has also worked with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Ghana and served on the Uganda Law Society’s Legislation Committee and the East Africa Law Society’s Regional Pool of Lawyers for the protection of human rights defenders. Florence is a member of the Ugandan Bar and holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from the University of Nottingham, a Diploma in Legal Practice, and an LL.B. from Makerere University. She is widely recognized for her expertise in civic space, democratic governance, legal reform, and public participation in Africa.
Président de la Brigade Citoyenne Anti-Fraude Électorale (BCAFE) et
Coordinateur général de la Mission d’Observation Citoyenne pour une Élection Transparente (MOCET). Faustin NDONG NTOUTOUME est un acteur de la société civile gabonaise engagé dans la promotion de la démocratie, de la citoyenneté et de la bonne gouvernance. Il préside la Brigade Citoyenne Anti-Fraude Électorale (BCAFE) et assure conjointement avec la Dynamique Régionale, la coordination générale de la Mission d’Observation Citoyenne des Élections et de la Transition (MOCET). Acteur actif dans les processus électoraux pendant la transition de 2023 au Gabon et auteur du Manuel du Bon Citoyen au Référendum, il œuvre notamment pour le renforcement de la participation citoyenne, l’observation électorale, la promotion de la transparence des processus électoraux et la consolidation de la culture démocratique au Gabon et en Afrique centrale. Son engagement s’inscrit dans une démarche visant à renforcer le rôle de la société civile dans la gouvernance, la protection des droits citoyens et l’amélioration des processus électoraux.
Over 20 years of professional experience, leading, coordinating and implementing democracy, good governance, elections and inclusive development programs, including managing funds and subgrants, in developing and transitional societies. Worked at the nexus of democracy and governance program implementation with more than fifteen years senior program management and leadership experiences, leading technical assistance, supporting and coordinating high level electoral support, citizen engagement in political processes, advocacy campaigns, civil society organization (CSO) capacity building and transitional justice programs across Africa, having lived and worked in countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, .Liberia and Nigeria
Senior Investigative Data Analyst with the iLAB team at Code for Africa (CfA), specialising in the investigation and analysis of influence operations that threaten election integrity and democratic processes. She uses open-source intelligence (OSINT), data analysis, and social listening tools to map and track online narratives, hate speech, polarisation, and xenophobic content, generating insights that support evidence-based responses to emerging information threats.
Served as Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) since 2019 and is the founding Project Director of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS). A constitutional law scholar and former professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, he has advised on constitutional reform and governance in countries including Yemen, South Sudan and The Gambia, and has worked with the Kenyan judiciary on constitutional and election matters. In 2025, he was appointed Chairman of Ghana’s Constitution Review Committee, leading its nationwide consultations and review of the 1992 Constitution. He was awarded the Order of the Volta in 2023 and previously practised law in Washington, D.C. He holds a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, an MBA from Baylor University, and a BSc in Management from the University of Ghana.
Executive Director of Democracy Reporting International (DRI), a Berlin-based independent non-profit organisation committed to defending, improving and strengthening democracy worldwide. She provides strategic direction and leadership to the organisation and ensures implementation and management of programmes and staff across DRI’s offices. Her specialisation and thematic focus within DRI is on elections and electoral matters. With more than 25 years’ experience and background in elections, democratisation, and human rights, she has advised governments and international organisations on electoral and legislative reform, developed methodologies and designed and conducted trainings. She also designed and managed complex multi-year projects, led organizational development processes and spoken at various events. As Human Dimension Adviser for Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship from 2015 to 2017 she was responsible for the Chairmanship’s programme on human rights. From 2011 to 2014 she served as Deputy Head of the Election Department of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR). She oversaw election-related activities across the OSCE region and was responsible for operational and programmatic management.
Chair of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and the Founder and Director of the European Exchange gGmbH in Berlin. A scholar of Slavonic languages and Eastern European history, she has extensive experience fostering civil society cooperation across Eastern Europe. Stefanie has co-founded and led several major international initiatives, including the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, the Kyiv Dialogue, and the Initiative Quorum. She also serves as an advisor and board member for various human rights and philanthropic organizations, including the Marion Dönhoff Foundation, filia Frauenstiftung, and Human Rights in Belarus e.V.
Currently the elected Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board against Corruption (AUABC). He is a Management and Development Consultant with 30 years of working experience including providing and leading consulting and capacity building services at the national and international level. Previously, he has served in various capacities, including as the Chair for the African Anti-Corruption Research Network (AACRN), as Resource Person & Mentor on Ethical Leadership for the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), Lead National Expert on Popular Participation to the Government of Ghana and National Project Coordinator – UNDP/Africa 2000 Network – Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Project. He has also served on the Management Committees for the University of Ghana – Centre for Social Policy Studies and the University of Ghana – Centre for Migration Studies. Hon. Senanu is passionate about matters of good governance and the fight against corruption. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Food Science from the Univ. of Ghana and a Master’s in Development Management (MDM) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Member of the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and a former Acting Co-Chair of CODEO. He has also served as the 2nd Vice President of the West African Election Observers Network (WAEON). He is an Islamic cleric, retired educationist, and spokesperson for the National Chief Imam of Ghana.
Sheikh Armiyawo has participated in the observation of elections throughout Ghana’s Fourth Republic and has served as an international election observer in Kenya, Liberia, and Nigeria. His extensive experience in electoral observation has been complemented by his engagement in peacebuilding, governance, civic participation, and interfaith dialogue.
He currently serves as a Board Member of the National Peace Council of Ghana and on the National Integrity Award Committee under the Office of the Speaker of Parliament. He is also a member of the National Moral Vision of the Church of Pentecost. He has previously served on the Civil Society Coalition on National Reconciliation and as an Executive Council Member of the Coalition of Muslim Organizations (COMOG). He has also served on the boards of several institutions, including the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Afro-Arab Financial Company, the Faith Project of the Catholic Secretariat, and the Ghana Association of Muslim Professionals.
As former Regional Manager of the Greater Accra Islamic Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, Sheikh Armiyawo has also contributed to education and skills development through his service on the boards of the Ghana/Turkey Development Cooperation (TUDEC) and the TVET Advocacy Team of the Presbyterian Church.
He is the Principal Imam of Dar es Salaam Mosque in Ghana and a visiting Imam at the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces mosques. He is also a member of the Federation of Faith Leaders of the Global Freedom Network, an international organisation working to combat modern slavery.
With more than three decades of engagement with the media, Sheikh Armiyawo has served as an educator and commentator on national, religious, and social issues. He is a longstanding advocate for peace, interfaith dialogue, social cohesion, and harmony.
Head of Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, having assumed office in September 2025. A seasoned EU diplomat with more than 20 years of experience in the EU’s external relations, he previously served as EU Ambassador to Malawi, Deputy Head of the Division for Pan-African Affairs at the European External Action Service in Brussels, and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Zambia. He began his diplomatic career in 1994 at the EU Delegation to Ghana. In his current role, he leads the EU’s engagement with Ghana across political, development, economic and security cooperation.
Beninese governance and democracy practioner working at the intersection of democratic governance, civic partcipation, electoral integrity, digital rights and responsible technology in Africa. He has over ten years of experience working on governance, public policy, civic space and citizen engagement, with a particular focus on strengthening democratic participation and the ability of ciƟzens and civil society to engage with public institutions. He is Director of Operations at AfricTivistes Citizen Lab Benin (ACLB), where he contributes to initiatives focused on civic participation, digital rights, civic technology, public policy and information integrity. His work increasingly explores the governance implications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, particularly in relation to human rights, public decision-making, democratic participation and accountability. David is also a AI Ethics Fellow under the Digitalise Youth initiative, where his work examined the governance of AI-powered public systems from a rights-based and democratic perspective. His broader interests include electoral integrity, digital civic space, responsible AI governance and the development of African approaches to technology that strengthen rather than constrain democratic participation.
EPD’s Regional Advisor on African Union Engagement. Andrew is a public interest lawyer and human rights advocate, with over 15 years of experience centred on the thematic areas of governance, rule of law, human rights and transitional justice He focuses primarily on legal research, strategic litigation, policy formulation and analysis, domestic and international advocacy, and civic education. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Andrew has worked extensively on various advocacy projects and served as a resource person for African Union initiatives related to democratic governance and human rights. He has also authored several publications on these topics.
Holds a Master’s degree in Political and International Studies from Mohamed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She has 9 years of professional experience in the electoral domain. From 2017 to 2025, she held the position of Programme Officer within the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Permanent Secretariat based in Abuja, Nigeria. She was trained as a long-term election observer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA). She is an electoral expert and has participated actively in several ECOWAS Election Observation Missions (EOMs). Furthermore, Ms. Touré is also a full accredited BRIDGE workshop facilitator. In 2021, Ms. Touré gained international experience as she served as UN election expert deployed to New Caledonia to supervise the Voter registration process ahead of the Referendum on New Caledonia’s self-determination. She currently holds the position of Programme Officer, Capacity Support and Best Practices within the Electoral Assistance Division of the ECOWAS Commission.
Malawian communication professional, digital governance
advocate, and emerging civic technology leader with eight years of experience advancing
strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy across Malawi’s public,
private, and development sectors.
Her work sits at the intersection of communication, governance, technology, and citizen
participation. She has led strategic communication initiatives, media and stakeholder relations,
digital campaigns, and advocacy efforts, working with civil society organisations, development
partners, government institutions, and other key stakeholders.
Chimwemwe is particularly focused on the use of digital technologies to strengthen democratic
participation, accountability, and access to credible information. She is the founder of Digital
Democracy Watch, an emerging initiative dedicated to promoting digital resilience, information
integrity, digital rights, and informed civic participation in Malawi. Through the initiative, she is
developing practical approaches that enable young people and communities to navigate the
digital information environment and participate meaningfully in democratic processes.
She is also a participant in the Digital Governance Incubation Program by Accountability Lab
East and Southern Africa (ALESA), where she is advancing her leadership and practice in
digital governance.
Joined the Department of Government in 2019. He received his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2017. His research focuses on political accountability, election integrity, legislator behavior, and the quality of democracy, with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He also works on issues of research design and transparency. His research has appeared in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science and Electoral Studies. Dr. Ofosu is a Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development. He was previously a postdoctoral research associate at Washington University in St. Louis (2017-2019), a predoctoral fellow at Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (2015-2016), and a research fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University (2009-2010).
Holds a Master’s degree in Political and International Studies from Mohamed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She has 9 years of professional experience in the electoral domain. From 2017 to 2025, she held the position of Programme Officer within the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Permanent Secretariat based in Abuja, Nigeria. She was trained as a long-term election observer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA). She is an electoral expert and has participated actively in several ECOWAS Election Observation Missions (EOMs). Furthermore, Ms. Touré is also a full accredited BRIDGE workshop facilitator. In 2021, Ms. Touré gained international experience as she served as UN election expert deployed to New Caledonia to supervise the Voter registration process ahead of the Referendum on New Caledonia’s self-determination. She currently holds the position of Programme Officer, Capacity Support and Best Practices within the Electoral Assistance Division of the ECOWAS Commission.
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