Jean Mensa
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has advocated moving the presidential and parliamentary elections from December to November.
She also wants the election days to be designated as national holidays as part of the proposals for the change in timetable for the national elections.
The EC boss made the proposals during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Mrs. Mensa said declaring election days as national holidays could encourage greater civic participation and foster stronger democratic culture in the country.
The EC chair’s proposal to hold the elections in November comes after a petition by the Seventh Day Adventist Church for the country to reconsider the December 7 date for general election.
The church has expressed worry that its members may be disenfranchised since December 7 falls on a Saturday, which is dedicated to the worship of God by the church.
At the meeting, some of the political parties expressed doubts about the preparedness of the country to hold the elections earlier, raising concerns about potential logistical challenges and legal reforms to enable the changes to be implemented.
The EC boss, however, said the commission was prepared to hold the elections in November and assured the political parties that further discussions would be held on the proposals, including consultations with various stakeholders.
The proposal to change the election date from December 7 to November is not a novelty.
In July 2016, a bill to change the country’s election date from December 7 to November failed to pass in Parliament, as it could not garner the needed two-thirds of votes required by law.
Despite assurances from the EC, only 125 MPs voted for the change and 95 voted against it. A total of 55 MPs were absent from the chamber and therefore did not partake in the voting.
The commission had argued that holding the elections earlier would “enable a sufficient transition period within which one government hands over power to another after every election year.”
The process to amend the 1992 Constitution began in March 2016 following recommendations by an Electoral Reform Committee formed in 2015 to propose reforms to Ghana’s electoral system in response to recurring challenges during run-off elections, among other things.
According to the current laws, the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for December 7, 2024.
By Ernest Kofi Adu