EC drops proposal to shift December 7 election to November

Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has officially abandoned its proposal to shift the December 7 election to November, Deputy Chair Bossman Asare announced on Monday. This follows strong opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), one of the country’s major political parties.

The proposed change, presented at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, aimed to boost voter turnout and enhance democratic participation. Additionally, the EC suggested declaring Election Day a national holiday. However, these initiatives faced resistance from the NDC, raising concerns about the feasibility of garnering parliamentary approval due to constitutional requirements demanding a two-thirds majority.

Dr. Asare explained, “One of the major political parties indicated clearly that they don’t support the change…knowing the law, the commission has resolved that we are going to have the elections come December 7 as we did in 2020.”

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While the December 7 date remains, the EC hasn’t ruled out future shifts. During the IPAC meeting, an agreement was reached that if November elections prove impossible in 2024, the commission would pursue them in 2028. Notably, the specific November date within 2028 remains undecided, with possibilities ranging from the first Monday to weekdays like Thursday or Friday.

This development reflects the complex dynamics of electoral reforms in Ghana, where achieving consensus among diverse stakeholders can be challenging. While the December 7 date holds for now, the EC’s future efforts to alter the electoral calendar will require careful navigation of the political landscape and adherence to legal processes.

Key takeaways from EC drops proposal to shift December 7 election to November:

• Ghana’s 2024 general election will be held on December 7, as usual.
• The EC’s proposal to move the date to November and make it a national holiday was rejected.
• Future November elections are a possibility, with 2028 being the earliest target.
• The decision highlights the importance of consensus building and legal considerations in electoral reforms.

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