User:Clowery1/Coalition of Domestic Election Observers/Bibliography

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Outline of proposed changes

 * Explanation of CODEO

The Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) is a network of civil society groups, faith-based organizations, and professional bodies that observe Ghanaian elections to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections (“Our History”). Since its establishment in 2000, CODEO has become the largest domestic election observer network in Ghana: consisting of 42 civil society, professional, and faith-based organizations. CODEO also holds membership with the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) and the West African Election Observers Network (WAEON) (“Our History”). Despite the long history of both domestic and international election observers in Africa, CODEO has established itself as a continental example for successful election observation and peaceful transitions to democratization.


 * History

The Coalition of Domestic Observers was established in 2000 through the collaboration of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) (Sakyi& Oduro 2002, 58). The founding of CODEO was in direct response to the upcoming 2000 Ghanaian election and demands for accountability and responsive governance from civil society (“Our History”). Originally, CODEO consisted of twenty-two civil society, professional, and faith-based organizations–including, but not limited to Federation of Muslim Councils (FMC), the Ghana Bar Association (GBA, and the Institute of Democratic Studies (IDS). Although the 2000 election was the first time that these organizations organized under the name “Coalition of Domestic Election Observers,” under the umbrella of CDD-Ghana, they had previously organized during the 1996 Ghanaian election as the Network of Domestic Election Observers (NEDEO) (Sakyi &Oduro 2002, 59).


 * Significance of the 2000 Election

The third and fourth wave of democratization of the 1980s and 1990s heralded significant change within African elections. Most notable were regime transitions and a shift to multi-party elections. This transition occurred in 1993 Ghana with the replacement of a quasi-military regime to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) (Sakyi & Oduro 2002, 58). However, considering that Jerry John Rawlings was the president under both of these regimes, it wasn’t until the 2000 Ghanaian election that fears of unpeaceful democratic alteration of power would occur. The Coalition of Democratic Election Observers was founded in light of these fears and sought to assist Ghana’s electoral commission in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections (Sakyi & Oduro 2002, 59).


 * Importance & Accomplishments

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers prides itself on impartially observing every election in Ghana since 2000, including party primaries, local government elections, general elections, and by-elections (“Our History”). The Coalition’s observation is crucial both in public confidence and in improving the integrity of the electoral process. Throughout its tenure, CODEO claims numerous nationwide democratic accomplishments, significant improvements in election monitoring technology, and observation beyond Ghana.


 * Structure & Membership

Starting with a network of only twenty-two organizations, CODEO has now expanded to include forty-two organizations. Along with this expansion of membership, CODEO includes a sixteen-member advisory board and sub-committees that assist the board. (Sakyi & Oduro 2002, 59).