The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to abandon its proposed plan to close polls at 3 pm instead of 5 pm during the 2024 general elections.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs expressed concern that this decision could potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.

During the budget approval debate for the EC on Wednesday, December 20, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasised the importance of maintaining the 5 pm schedule.

Referring to the recently held district assembly elections, he stated that upon his arrival at the polling station, voting materials had not yet arrived.

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“The attempt to reduce voting time from 5 pm to 3 pm, we should interrogate it. I believe it is too early for the EC to do it. [On Tuesday] when I went to vote, the materials had not been assembled yet even though I got there at 8:15, I had to stay until 9:20 to start voting, already two hours wasted."

Meanwhile, the EC has defended its decision to shift the closing time of voting from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm during the 2024 general elections.

• Read also: NPP, NDC sceptical about EC’s 3pm closure for 2024 polls proposal

EC Chairperson Jean Mensa emphasised that this adjustment aims to facilitate the transparent and orderly collation of votes by electoral officers in broad daylight.