The Electoral Commission is pushing for a historic change in Ghana's election timetable from December 7 to November 7, 2016.

Joy News has sighted the Commission’s plan which will allow more time for a run-off if the leading candidate fails to garner to 50-plus-one vote for an outright victory.

Director of Public Affairs of the Commission Christian Owusu Parry also confirmed on Joy Newsnight.

He explained that lessons in 2000 and 2008 informed the new proposal after Ghanaians got to know their new president just three days to the end of the year.

“That left us with a few days for transition arrangements to be made” Owusu Parry said.

According to the Director of Public Affairs, the EC will ask the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General and the Presidency to table an amendment to Article 112 Clause 4.

Article 112 clause (4) states inter alia; "subject to clause two of 113 of this Constitution a general election of Members of Parliament shall be held within 30 days before the expiration of the period specified in clause (1) of that article and a session of Parliament shall be appointed to commence within 14 days after the expiration of that period".

Article 113 (1) further states: "Subject to clause (2) of this article Parliament shall continue for four years from the date of its sitting and shall then stand dissolved."

According the 1992 constitution of Ghana, presidential elections may take place between one and four months before the expiration of the incumbent president's term.

"Article 63, clause 2(a) states: 'The election of the President shall be on the terms of universal adult suffrage and shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be conducted in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by constitutional instrument by the Electoral Commission

"and shall be held so as to begin – (a) where a President is in office, not earlier than four months nor later than one month before his term of office expires'.

Since the provision under the constitution is not an entrenched provision, it can be changed by an Act of Parliament, Owusu Parry said.

The Commission is expecting that the legislative proposal to change the date will run smoothly because it enjoys the support of “ä good number of Ghanaians”.

“It wouldn’t be too difficult at all for the august Members of Parliament to accept the proposal” he expressed optimism.

The current December 7 date has been criticized by Civil Society groups. Many believe that it does not give sufficient time to the incoming administration to put together a competent team to be at the helm of affairs of Ghana.