At the end of March, the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), in close cooperation with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), and in collaboration with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, as well as in coordination with the African Union, facilitated a comprehensive technical support mission in Accra as part of its continued commitment to strengthening electoral governance across the continent.
The mission brought together a highly complementary team of experts—Khaldoun Dudin (Senior ICT Electoral Expert - ECES), José Enrique Román Sierra (Senior ISO & Electoral Auditor – ECES), and Granville Abrahams (Senior Electoral Management Expert - ECES)—whose combined expertise enabled a holistic, structured, and results-oriented engagement aligned with the mission’s objectives.
Over several days, in-depth technical exchanges were held with the leadership and operational teams of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. These discussions addressed key components of the electoral cycle, including voter accreditation systems, results transmission mechanisms, voter registration processes, as well as internal human resource management and archiving systems. The dialogue reflected a shared commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and the strengthening of institutional resilience in electoral administration.
A central pillar of the mission was the development and refinement of a 3–5 year Strategic Plan for the AAEA, incorporating clearly defined key performance indicators and a robust risk management framework. This strategic work was complemented by targeted capacity-building activities delivered through the LEAD-Q programme, aimed at reinforcing leadership capacities and advancing internal quality management systems in line with international standards and ISO/TS 54001 certification pathways, both developed and owned by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).
In this context, particular attention was given to the ongoing integration of ISO/TS 54001 standards into upcoming strategic planning cycles, marking an important step towards institutionalizing quality through documented, repeatable, and certifiable processes. This approach contributes to enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency within electoral management bodies.
In parallel, the mission supported the strengthening of communication and IT capacities within the AAEA framework, including website modernization, the development of a structured social media strategy, and the advancement of a comprehensive Communication and Visibility Strategy. These efforts aim to reinforce the Association’s outreach, knowledge-sharing, and engagement with its members and stakeholders.
Delivered in a tailored and impact-driven manner, and implemented in close cooperation with ECES, this mission forms part of a broader framework of peer learning and institutional exchange promoted by the AAEA across Africa and beyond. It underscores the Association’s commitment to fostering resilient, modern, and quality-driven electoral institutions capable of delivering credible elections consistently, beyond individual electoral cycles.