Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei has been shortlisted for the prestigious Chatham House Prize for 2017.
Awarded by the Royal Institute of International Affairs of the United Kingdom, the Chatham House Prize is given to the person, persons or organization deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year.
She was nominated alongside Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia and Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO, Chatham House announced on its website.
According to the Director of Chatham House, Dr. Robin Niblett CMG, the nomination of Mrs. Osei was based on her admirable supervision of Ghana’s peaceful and transparent electoral process in December 2016.
“The recent election consolidated Ghana’s 24-year long democratic trajectory and was norm setting for Africa, the Commonwealth and beyond; your tireless efforts throughout 2016 were central to this success” Chatham House said.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana in a statement signed by its Head of Communications said it is “delighted and honoured” by the nomination.
Mrs. Osei is the only female and the only African to be shortlisted for the 2017 Prize.
Juan Manuel Santos was nominated for formally ratifying a peace agreement with the FARC rebel group and bringing an end to the war in Colombia.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO was also nominated for steering NATO through one of the most complicated periods in its recent history.
The winner will be announced later this year, and an award ceremony will take place in the autumn.
Past recipients of the Chatham House Prize include, former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, former President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Democracy Campaigner and Leader of the National League for Democracy and, former US Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate in last November’s US elections, Mrs. Hillary Clinton; and former US Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry.
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