The minority in parliament has exposed plan by the EC to change the voting date from December 7 to November 7.
The Proposal by Ghana’s Electoral Commissioner; Madam Jean Mensa for the change of date for both Presidential and Parliamentary elections, to be moved from December 7 to November 7 ahead of the 2024 general elections has been opposed by the NDC Minority in parliament.
The EC also wants election days to be designated as national holidays. The proposals were put forward during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024.
However, passing comments after the Rt. Hon. Speaker had officially delivered his statement welcoming honorable members at the commencement of the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 8th Parliament on Tuesday,6,2024, their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson declared the position of the minority on the proposal, saying they will not support it.
“The electoral commission and those behind it has announced their intention to change the date of this general election from December to November, let me say it here and now that the NDC minority caucus in parliament will not support any change at this time “he declares.
Dr. Ato Forson elaborating on their decision told parliament that the reason is due to the fact that the Commission has more pertinent and threatening issues that requires the immediate attention of the Electoral Commission than a change of date for the general elections.
“As I speak Mr. Speaker, the Electoral Commission is yet to release the calendar for the 2024 General Elections” he lamented
The EC he thus said must focus all its energy and attention on the provisions of the 2024 elections calendar than a change of date.
“Mr. Speaker, if the electoral commission decides to embark on a comprehensive and a meaningful reforms after the 2024 elections, in consultation with political parties and other faith based organizations, Mr. Speaker, we in the NDC minority in parliament may reconsider our position, but in the meantime, we stand opposed to the change of the date for elections and all reforms that have been proposed by the electoral commission “he serves notices
Responding, majority leader, osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clarified that until parliament amends the constitution, the commission cannot do it, hence threatening is an act in futility.
“In any event, Mr. Speaker the first time this came to be introduced in this house was 2012 by Afari-Gyan Much as we appreciate the principle we said that it was too late, because for him it was just 6 months to elections. And so I agree that there is nothing wrong if we move it forward so that the Parliamentary calendar will be congealment to that of the presidential calendar but if you are saying maybe it cannot be done in an election year, that is another argument” he explained
By:Mary Quartey
