The Chairperson of Ghana's Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensa, has proposed moving the date of both Presidential and Parliamentary elections from December 7 to November 7.
The proposal also includes designating election days as national holidays. These suggestions were presented during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024.
The Electoral Commission aims to stimulate discussions on potential enhancements to the electoral process.
Advocating for an earlier election month, the Commission highlighted that declaring election days as national holidays could boost civic engagement and contribute to a more robust democratic culture.
The proposal for the change in the election date originated from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
The church, in a petition to the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General, cited a conflict between the current election date (which falls on a Saturday) and the Sabbath—a holy day dedicated to the worship of God.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church proposes adopting “the first (1st) or second (2nd) Tuesday of November” as the new date for Ghana's general elections.
The church emphasizes the need for codification to ensure Adventists' freedom to worship.
