[1] Since its establishment in 2000, CODEO became the largest domestic election observer network in Ghana–consisting of forty-two civil society, professional, and faith-based organizations.
The Coalition of Domestic Observers was established in 2000 through the collaboration of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF).
[1] Originally, CODEO consisted of twenty-two civil society, professional, and faith-based organizations–including, but not limited to Federation of Muslim Councils (FMC), the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), and the Institute of Democratic Studies (IDS).
[2] Because the 2000 election had a substantial influence on the creation of CODEO, understanding the complicated history of democratization in Ghana is crucial to grasping the motivations of CDD-Ghana and FNF.
Competitors included John Agyekum Kuffour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Edward Mahama from the People's National Convention (NPC).
[2] For these organizations, voter fraud stood in the way of the free, fair, and transparent elections needed to construct a successful democracy in Ghana.
If Jerry Rawlings refused to relent power or stirred doubts about a fair election, he could easily set a precedent of conflict and authoritarianism in the country.
It was with the assistance of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) that NEDEO was able to expand and adopt the name Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
[1] While not an explicit member organization, CODEO has a list of notable donors including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Ford Foundation.
Throughout its tenure, CODEO claims numerous nationwide democratic accomplishments, significant improvements in election monitoring technology, and observation beyond Ghana.
GNDEM works to push forward credible and advanced electoral monitoring methodologies that ensure accuracy while preventing voting hindrances.
Because of its large membership, GNDEM can pool together a variety of practices from different regional and national monitors to ensure the facilitation of election observation innovations.
The second project was the Implementation of a Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), aimed at enhancing the quality of Election Day observation.
PVT included a random sampling process that deployed observers to polling stations on Election Day to tabulate the results and their accuracy.
Not only does PVT provide an incentive for polling stations and candidates to remain integral, but verifies the tabulation results from the Electoral Commission.
This education program is aimed at covering both basic information (i.e. casting a ballot correctly) and more advanced material (vote-buying and election peace).