Accra, Jan. 29, GNA - The European Commission Delegation to Ghana on Thursday donated equipment used by the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in December presidential and parliamentary election worth GH¢11,487 to eight civil society organisations. A total of eight civil society organisations (CSO) received the donations, which included IT equipment, office furniture and medical supplies.

Mr. Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Ghana, was present for the donation ceremony and on signing over the equipments. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to pass on the equipment to civil society organisations and we sincerely hope it would be of use to these organisations," he said. Mr. Sebregondi said CSO played a crucial role in monitoring the elections adding that this was a credit to Ghana. He said activities of CSOs covered a wide range of issues, including elections health, education, promoting rights of women and working with the under-privileged.

The eight civil society organisations are the Cardinal Foundation for Distance Learning (CADFIL), Partners in Community Development Programme (PACODEP), Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM), Friends for Human Development (FHD), Professionals Alert for Action (PAFA Foundation), Ripples Health Care, Health and Wellness and Women Wing.

Mr Alex Asiedu, Head of the Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana and a beneficiary expressed his appreciation to the EU EOM and said the equipment would facilitate their work. The election observation was part of the European Commission's support for human rights and democracy throughout the world and the total budget for the mission in Ghana was 2.5 million Euros.