The former President of Ghana and Chief of the Election Observation Mission of ECOWAS, Nana AKUFO-ADDO has urged political actors and citizens in Benin to uphold peace, transparency, and respect for electoral outcomes ahead of the country’s presidential election.

Arriving in Cotonou as head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, Akufo-Addo emphasized that credible and violence-free elections are essential for strengthening democracy and stability in the region.

He called on all stakeholders to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and commit to a fair process.

The Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission is to coordinate a team consisting of 20 long-term Observers, 80 short-term Observers and 25 young professionals, who will be deployed throughout the territory of Benim on April 12, 2026, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Speaking on arrival in Cotonou on Wednesday, 8th April, the former president, who is fluent in English and French, told the media that ECOWAS observers were in Benin as part of efforts for the consolidation of democracy under the regional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

The Head of Mission urged the political actors to eschew violence or statements that could undermine the electoral process and also to respect the results of the vote.

Nana Akufo-Addo has called on political actors and the citizens to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process consistent with the country’s record on multi-party democracy.

The former Head of State was received at the airport by an ECOWAS delegation, including Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, who is leading the ECOWAS technical support team to the Mission, Amb. Amadou Diongue, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Benin, and Ghana’s Ambassador to Benin, Amb. Mohammed Abubakari Manaf.

ECOWAS dispatched a fact-finding mission to Benin in January 2026, after the January 11 parliamentary and municipal elections in that country.

ECOWAS has also provided Benin with financial support of US$260,000 for the presidential election, and deployed 15 Long-Term and 80 Short-Term Observers to monitor the electoral process in Benin’s 12 administrative Departments.

Twenty-five Young Professionals from ECOWAS member States are also observing the election.

The National Electoral Commission, CENA, registered 7.8 million voters, who will cast their ballots at more than 7,000 polling stations nationwide, to elect a successor to outgoing President Patrice Talon, who will be completing the constitutionally allowed two terms of 10 years.

The two candidates in the 12 April presidential race are Romuald Wadagni, the Finance Minister, of the ruling Coalition, who has a female running mate, and the opposition flag-bearer Paul Hounkpè.