Parliament yesterday rejected the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was seeking to change the voting day from December 7 to November 7 in every election year.
During its second reading stage, the Bill failed to get the endorsement of the two-thirds majority of the 275 Members of Parliament (MPs) through secret voting, with 125 in favour of the bill and 95 against. The House needed at least 184 votes to have the bill accepted.
The unprecedented move means that the Electoral Commission (EC) cannot hold the 2016 general elections on the anticipated November 7.
Rather, the elections will now be held on December 7, the constitutionally mandated date.
After a heated debate on the bill and the report of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the MPs were asked to vote on the bill through secret ballot as required by Article 291 of the 1992 Constitution.
After the declaration of the results by Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho, the minority members burst into chorus of “Change is coming,” while members of the majority NDC looked very dejected apparently because government’s intention to have the general elections held on November 7 had been torpedoed.
EC Unprepared
During the debate at the second reading stage, the MP for Akwapim South, who is also the chairman of the Subsidiary Legislative Committee of Parliament, Osei Bonsu Amoah, had argued strongly that the November 7 date would not give the EC adequate time to prepare a certified voters’ register and give it out to political parties by September 28, as has been fixed by the EC.
According to him, when that happens, the presidential and the parliamentary candidates might not be able to file their nominations according to the EC’s timetable, as they would need the certified voters’ register to get voters to endorse their candidatures.
“Candidates are supposed to file their nominations from 15-17 September, this year; so how can they do all these things with the EC yet to prepare the certified register?” he queried.
He also argued that if the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as explained by the Attorney General, was to allow for more time and smooth transitional period, then the much-awaited Presidential Transitional Bill should be passed to take care of the transitional challenges.
Mr O.B Amoah told DAILY GUIDE after the bill was rejected that at least the EC must be happy that parliament had rejected the bill to give it more time to adequately prepare for the elections.
“They will now have time to do proper procurement and also train election officers very well for the December elections,” he noted.
The NPP MP for Wenchi, Prof George Gyan-Baffour, who is the acting chairman of the Special Budget Committee of Parliament, said the EC is requesting for GH¢1.2 billion but the government was able to budget for GH¢875 million, and wondered where the government would have the additional GH¢400 million to meet the rest of EC’s estimated expenditure
He said for the EC to hold successful elections, it needs enough funding and that the government claims it had provided GH¢693 million for the EC’s operation, but in actual fact, the amount paid to EC so far is GH¢461 million.
The minority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, before the voting yesterday, had indicated that the minority would support the bill if it would be used for the 2020 general elections.
Disappointment
The majority leader, Alban Bagbin, said the whole nation was in support of the bill and that the minority must also give their support so that the sixth parliament would leave a good legacy for future generations.
Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, after the rejection of the bill, told journalists that he was highly disappointed and sad about the development.
NPP’s Position
The NPP says in principle, it had always wanted the elections to be held on November 7, 2016, but the NDC government delayed the process to see the amendment of the constitution to take care of the November 7 date.
“In the light of the long delay in bringing the amendment, the inevitable rush in the timetable of the EC and the parliamentary timetable, the NPP minority in parliament was unable to support the November 7th date,” Nana Akomea, the party’s Communications Director, told DAILY GUIDE yesterday.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr