The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has released its first findings  on the pre-election environment.

The findings in the report are based on bi-weekly field reports submitted in the month of July and August from 134 out of the 138 constituencies randomly selected from the 10 regions of Ghana.

The report identified low levels of election-related preparatory activity amongst key stakeholders.

It says "close to a quarter (23%) of CODEO LTOs reported either observing or hearing the Electoral Commission undertake recruitment and training of their election staff.

"In addition, a little over a third of LTOs (39%) also reported either observing/hearing the EC undertake District Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings."

With regards to Civil Society Organisations’ election related-preparatory activities, CODEO’s LTOs also reported seeing low levels of activities of CSOs across the country.

"Our findings revealed that only 12 out of the 138 constituencies under observation have CSOs conducting candidates’ platform monitoring programs. However, in 44 out of the 138 observation constituencies CODEO’s LTOs observed/heard CSOs conducting violence monitoring and peace promotion."

There is also little or no targeted work on the promotion, and empowerment of women candidates, as well as candidates living with disabilities (People with Disabilities (PWDs) across the country, the report said.

"In terms of featuring these disadvantaged groups on political platforms, CODEO LTOs reported that the NPP leads as the party that featured women and PWDs as the leading speakers on their campaign platform followed by the NDC, CPP and PPP."

The report said the two larger parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), are the most visible parties with regards to election campaigning activities across the country.

"CODEO’s LTOs, reported that the parties discussed various policy issues on their campaign platforms in the various constituencies observed. Four key policy priority issues CODEO LTOs observed were: Education (22%); Unemployment (18%); Health (16%); and corruption (15%)."

CODEO LTOs reported of limited pre-election petitions lodged at the district courts in the various constituencies during the period of observation.

"Almost all (94%) of CODEO LTOs reported that they did not observe/hear of any pre-election petitions lodged at the district courts," the report added.