CCAC CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR NEW ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER
THE Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) notes the appointment of Dr. Nicole Haley as the Electoral Commissioner.
The Coalition acknowledges the need for stability and clarity of leadership at this pivotal moment and affirms its full support as Papua New Guinea prepares for the 2027 National General Election.
Recognizing that delivering credible elections is a shared national responsibility, the CCAC emphasizes the vital need for constructive partnership between government bodies, law enforcement, civil society, and local communities to support the PNG Electoral Commission in its preparations.
“For too long, our nation has endured elections marred by violence, last minute logistical preparations, funding delays, all of which leads to declining public confidence in the legitimacy of our election. Delivering elections that inspire public trust requires a unified, collaborative effort.
The 2027 National General Election cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of previous elections,” said CCAC Co-Chair, Mr Peter Aitsi.
To support effective coordination over the remaining preparation period, the CCAC is strongly urging effective collaboration and the required funding be locked in across national, provincial, district, and local-level governments to ensure the required support is provided to the PNG Electoral Commission.
The CCAC highlights five key areas for the Government to take immediate action and engage
shared national responsibility and priority:
- Ensure transparency of the Electoral Roll and System used, the PNG Electoral Commission to enable the public to access the electoral roll and ensure clear public communication about the voter registration system and electoral roll update.
- Support adequate Elections Funding
The Department of Treasury must prioritise the release of election funding to support critical preparations for the remaining ten (10) months before election period.
What is the Community Coalition Against Corruption?
Co-founded by TIPNG and the Media Council of PNG in 2002 with the support of churches, chambers of commerce, the Ombudsman Commission and the office of the Public Solicitor, the Coalition is a collective community network committed to standing together against the evil of corruption. - Clear public information on newly created electoral boundaries The Electoral Boundaries Commission in collaboration with the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs and the Electoral Commission must clearly communicate the new electoral boundaries to ensure voters in the respective communities are accurately
informed and not disenfranchised on polling day. - Public Awareness of Code of Conduct for Political Parties Proper elections require enforcement of strong standards. The CCAC supports the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates Commission (IPPCC) to publicly release the updated Political Parties Code of Conduct to guide lawful, responsible conduct by political parties throughout
the election period. - Clarify International Security Support Arrangements The CCAC calls for clarification on the engagement of proposed international security assistance to support the 2027 National General Election.
“The Government must take immediate, decisive action on these priorities to restore eroding public trust in our electoral system,” stated Mr. Aitsi.
“A credible election is non-negotiable. It demands strong, fully funded institutions working in uncompromised partnership with an informed citizenry, and the State must deliver on these commitments without delay or PNG’s NGE 2027 will see violence, corruption and rights violations that will be catastrophic for the country.”, said Mr. Aitsi.
Through its nationwide network of civil society, business, church, and community groups, the CCAC is actively obilizing civic awareness initiatives to promote informed civic participation and stands ready to work constructively with the Electoral Commission and all national partners to safeguard the integrity of our democratic process.
