The Ghana Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to consider putting a hold on the decision to move the December 7 election date to November.

According to the General Secretary of the party, Ato Dadzie, the party believes the EC should consider implementing the new date in 2028

Speaking in an interview on The Pulse on JoyNews on January 29, he said  “For GCPP, our position is that moving the date from December 7 to November should be a consideration for the next election in 2028 and not this year.”

He explained that 2024 is already packed with electoral activities and events, making this year very busy for the EC. The General Secretary said the decision to push a bill will distract the EC from adequately preparing for elections.

He continued that at the moment Ghanaians do not have absolute trust in the EC, and therefore, any change might only increase these doubts.

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“This year, we believe that for us to be certain in our minds as Ghanaians and political parties and for even the Electoral Commission we need to concentrate on December 7. Already, if they start the process of changing the date in November they will have to prepare a bill, it has to go to Parliament. 

“It has to go through gazetting 21 sitting days and then on the second hearing. They need 2/3rd to be able to pass it. We are not sure whether that process will be seamless. Therefore it will bring some sort of uncertainty in the minds of people. So we should still aim at December 7 for this year, however, consider moving the date a bit further,” he said.

Mr Dadzie added that the party was not clear on why the EC waited this long to push the bill in Parliament, despite the electoral body’s claim that the change in election date was recommended as far back as 2015. 

He added that considering the porous political system any changes in the election year will bring confusion.