Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been appointed to lead a 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary elections and a nationwide referendum, both set for February 12, 2026.
The appointment was announced in London on January 21, 2026, by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in response to a formal request from the Bangladesh Election Commission.
The Observer Group will monitor Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, which will coincide with a referendum on the July Charter—a post-uprising reform framework that proposes extensive political and constitutional changes.
In announcing the deployment, Ms. Botchwey described the mission as timely and significant for Bangladesh’s democratic process.
She emphasized that credible, transparent, and inclusive elections are vital for democratic governance and long-term stability, highlighting that the Commonwealth’s involvement goes beyond standard observation.
“Our presence in Bangladesh is guided not only by the responsibility to observe, but by a commitment to uphold the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people at this crucial moment in their democratic journey,” the Secretary-General stated, adding that the mission would be carried out independently and impartially to ensure the free expression of the people’s will.
She also praised the Observer Group members for their dedication, thanking them for committing the start of the year to supporting democratic processes in Bangladesh.
Mr. Akufo-Addo will chair the group and will be supported by election specialists and professionals from across the Commonwealth, with expertise in politics, law, media, gender advocacy, and electoral administration.
The mission will receive assistance from a Secretariat team headed by Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Commonwealth’s Electoral Support Section.
The Group’s mandate includes assessing all aspects of the electoral and referendum processes to determine if they align with national laws and the democratic standards and principles to which Bangladesh is committed.
Upon completion of the mission, a comprehensive report outlining findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and shared with the Government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission, political parties, Commonwealth member states, and the public.
The Observer Group consists of eminent individuals, including former ministers, electoral commissioners, legal scholars, civil society leaders, and media experts from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Fiji, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Zambia.