Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been appointed to chair a 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections and a nationwide referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026.
The appointment was announced in London on January 21, 2026, by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, following a request from the Bangladesh Election Commission. The mission will observe Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, which will be held alongside a referendum on the July Charter, a post-uprising reform framework proposing major political and constitutional changes.
Ms Botchwey described the deployment as crucial to Bangladesh’s democratic process, emphasizing the importance of credible, transparent and inclusive elections. She noted that the Observer Group will operate independently and impartially to support the free expression of the will of the Bangladeshi people.
Mr Akufo-Addo will lead a team of election experts drawn from across the Commonwealth, with backgrounds in politics, law, media, gender advocacy and electoral administration. The mission will be supported by a Commonwealth Secretariat team led by Linford Andrews.
The Observer Group will assess the conduct of the elections and referendum against Bangladesh’s laws and agreed democratic standards. A final report containing findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and shared with Bangladeshi authorities, political parties, Commonwealth member states and the public.