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Ghana’s Electoral Commissioner, Madam Jean Mensa, has suggested moving both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections from December 7 to November 7. The EC is also proposing that election days be designated as national holidays. These proposals were presented during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024.
The Electoral Commission put forth these suggestions with the aim of sparking discussions on potential improvements to the electoral process. Arguing for an earlier election month, the Commission emphasized that designating election days as national holidays could encourage increased civic engagement and contribute to fostering a more robust democratic culture.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church initially made the proposal to change the election date. In a petition to the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General, the church explained that the current date, falling on a Saturday, conflicts with the Sabbath—a holy day dedicated to the worship of God. The church is proposing the adoption of “the first (1st) or second (2nd) Tuesday of November” as the new date for Ghana’s general elections, aiming to codify this change to ensure Adventists the freedom to worship.
Source: Omanghana.com
