Pilot Dec 7 Election Date Amendment This Year…Let’s Believe In Ourselves – Allotey Jacobs To EC
Bernard Allotey Jacobs, former NDC Central Regional Chairman, has objurgated the proposal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Electoral Commission to effect the change of election date from Saturday, December 7 to Tuesday in November.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has been petitioned by some staunch members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, principal among the proponents being the former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party, James Kwabena Bomfeh, to change the December 7 so as to afford them the opportunity to exercise their franchise.
They also believe moving the date to a Tuesday in the month of November will help Ghanaian electorates to conveniently cast their votes.
They have asked the EC to begin the processes this year but the opposition National Democratic Congress has implored the election management body to postpone it to the year 2028.
According to Ex-President John Dramani Mahama and flagbearer of the NDC, “after every election, we sit and consider electoral reforms and we agree on what to do. Since 2020, we have only 9 months to another election and the EC has now come with major changes. No indelible ink and different reforms. When you do that it doesn’t build the confidence of the people in the electoral process”.
He added; “We have returned to IPAC after the Peace Council intervened and now they [EC] are saying they want to change the Election date and that they want to bring a new CI to change the old CI but our concern is why wait till now? You don’t spring surprises on people, what if it doesn’t work and it leads to some disturbances…so that is our position.”
But Allotey Jacobs has opposed the position of the National Democratic Congress saying the time to change the date is now.
He advised the EC to pilot the move in this year’s general elections stressing “let us believe in ourselves”.
He argued; “We have no place like Ghana. We have no country like Ghana. For Ghana to prosper, it depends on us. So, whatever will help us to improve on our electoral process, we need to assist and help. Our trial basis should be maybe coming November because there is enough time.”
Allotey Jacobs said these during a panel discussion session of Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” show Wednesday morning.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
