Brussels, 12/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to send observers to the presidential and general elections in Ghana on 7 December. The EU observation missions will be headed by Nikolai Mladenov (EPP-ED, Bulgaria) and consist of seven experts, 24 long term observers (LOT) and 34 short term observers (STO). €2.5 million has been taken from the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to fund this mission. In a press release published on 11 November, the commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the elections, which would provide “an occasion to consolidate and foster democracy even further” in Ghana. Her counterpart at development, Louis Michel, said that “Ghana's progress has been impressive in terms of democratisation, good governance and respect for human rights, and can serve as a model for other countries in West Africa and elsewhere in the continent”. (A.B./transl.rh)