Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been named to head a 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections and a national referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026.
The appointment was confirmed in London on January 21, 2026, by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, following an official request from the Bangladesh Election Commission.
The Observer Group will monitor Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, which will be held concurrently with a nationwide referendum on the July Charter. The Charter emerged from a post-uprising reform process and proposes significant political and constitutional changes.
Announcing the mission, Ms Botchwey described the deployment as a critical intervention at an important moment in Bangladesh’s democratic development. She underscored the importance of elections that are credible, inclusive and transparent, noting that the Commonwealth’s engagement goes beyond routine election monitoring.
She said the mission reflects the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people and will be conducted in a neutral and independent manner to help ensure that the electoral process reflects the will of the electorate.
Ms Botchwey also expressed appreciation to members of the Observer Group for their willingness to dedicate time and expertise to strengthening democratic processes in Bangladesh.
Mr Akufo-Addo will serve as Chair of the Group and will work alongside election experts and professionals drawn from across the Commonwealth. The team brings together experience in politics, law, media, gender advocacy and electoral administration.
The mission will receive technical and administrative support from a Secretariat team led by Linford Andrews, Head and Adviser at the Commonwealth’s Electoral Support Section.
According to the Commonwealth, the Observer Group is mandated to evaluate all stages of the electoral and referendum processes and assess whether they comply with Bangladesh’s legal framework as well as established democratic standards and commitments.
Following the conclusion of the mission, a detailed report outlining the Group’s findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The report will also be shared with the Government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission, political parties, Commonwealth member states and the general public.
Members of the Observer Group include distinguished former ministers, electoral officials, legal experts, civil society leaders and media practitioners from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Fiji, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Zambia.
