EC postpones ‘November elections’

• Posted on February 21, 2024February 21, 2024
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Deputy Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Eric Asare Bossman, has said the commission has taken into consideration the call by civil society activists to change the December 7 election day to November.

He mentioned that the legislation required for the date change to be implemented will be laid before parliament as soon as possible for possible consideration, stating that the move is not expected to be implemented during this year’s polls.

“So within the last few months, this is something the commission is going to trigger. That was agreed with the political parties, that in the event we cannot marshal the forces of IPAC to have it in November 2024, the commission should take steps to ensure that in 2028, we are going to have it in November.

“This must be clear; we were not talking about November 7. At the IPAC meeting, the decision was a day in November. So it could be the first Monday, a second Monday, a third Monday, Tuesday, Friday, or Thursday,” Dr. Bossman said in an interview with Joy News.

It was earlier reported that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, advocated moving the presidential and parliamentary elections from December to November during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.

She also wanted the election days to be designated as national holidays, as part of the proposals for the change in the timetable for the national elections.

Mrs. Mensa said declaring election days as national holidays could encourage greater civic participation and foster a 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 elections.

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 elections in November and assured the political parties that further discussions would be held on the proposals, including consultations with various stakeholders.