PRESS RELEASE – Cotonou, Benin, 8 April, 2026
Ghana’s immediate former President, Nana Akufo-Addo, Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) for Benin’s 12 April 2026 presidential election, 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.
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.
(L-R) Ghana;s Envoy to Benin Amb. Mohammed Manaf, ECOWAS Resident Rep. to Benin, Amb. Diongue, Amb Musah & Ex-President Akufo-Addo
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.
Amb. Musah introducing Ex-President Akufo-Addo to ECOWAS officials & some Election observers at Cotonou Airport
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.##
