Publication Elections 1st Edition Electoral Commissions in West Africa – A Comparative Study 06.04.2010 Elections are a backbone of democracy. In West Africa, however, elections are often contentious and triggers of violence. The comparative study at hand identifies similarities and differences in the set-up, roles and functioning of national electoral commissions in the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). By providing lessons learnt and best practices, the study shall assist those who seek to improve electoral processes and who aspire to introduce electoral norms and higher electoral standards in West Africa, most notably the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC). Authors – Mathias Hounkpe and Prof. Ismaila Madior Fall.
