President Akufo-Addo says requests for the December elections to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic while genuine, cannot be honoured.

He said Ghana’s constitution does not allow for this to be done and no president is permitted to stay in power without general elections.

“There are some who have argued and continue to argue that in the midst of a pandemic, the compilation of a new register and indeed the conduct parliamentary and presidential elections should be put on hold and scheduled for a later date, perhaps when the pandemic ends.

“That is not possible. The constitution of our republic makes no provision for the extension of the president who wield executive power, beyond four years,” he added.

Addressing the nation ahead of the conduct of the voter registration exercise on Tuesday June 30, 2020 the President stressed that the only way he can remain in power is when he is chosen by the people of Ghana at the polls.

“To exercise the executive power in the Ghanaian state, you must be duly elected by the Ghanaian people. You must have their freely expressed consent,” he stated.

He indicated that when his mandate as president expires on January 7, 2021, a duly elected person must be ready to be sworn in as president of the republic.

In order to forestall any needless constitutional controversy, which could throw Ghana into jeopardy, elections must be held on December 7, 2020.

“We should not fear or be alarmed despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Elections have been properly conducted in many nations across the globe. In Asia, we have witnessed the conduct of election in South Korea in April at the height of the pandemic in that country.

“In Europe, we have seen that of Poland and in our own continent of Africa, both Mali and Malawi have proceeded us in organising successful national elections.

“Surely, it is not beyond us,” President Akufo-Addo added.