[ 2016-06-29 ]

November 7 election date in limbo
It is still unclear if this year’s General
Elections will be held on the yet-to-be accepted
new election date, November 7, 2016.

The uncertainty over the elections date, Today
understands, stems from the fact that the
amendment of the date must go through loads of
constitutional processes before it can become a
law.

And following that long process, the Speaker of
Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe- Adjaho, yesterday
referred the amendment proposal date to the
Council of State to bring forward the date for
elections to November 7.

The Council of State is expected to consider the
constitutional instrument and must, within 30
working days, take a stance on the change in
election date.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs.
Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, at the sitting
yesterday, laid the instrument before the floor of
Parliament.

And that development will bring the country
closer to effecting an historic change in our
elections date.

December 7 date has been used in six general
elections since 1992.

The memorandum accompanying the Constitutional
(Amendment) Bill, 2016, states that “the bill
amends Article 112 (4) of the Constitution to make
provision for parliamentary elections to be held
well ahead of the expiration of the tenure of
Parliament to ensure an effective and smooth
transition.”

It explains that currently, dates set aside in
respect of conduct of both parliamentary and
presidential elections in the country is the 7th
day of December whiles swearing in of the
president takes place on the 7th day of January in
the ensuing year.

However, the one-month period for the transition
of one government to the other, has over the years
proved insufficient for a smooth transition,
particularly in instances where there is a run-off
election as was the case in 2000 and 2008.

For example, in a case of a run-off, the existing
government has only 10 days to complete the period
of transition.
There is a general consensus among political
players that the change in the timetable is
desirable.

“In the light of the apparent weaknesses in our
election system and following the election
petition in 2013, the Electoral Reform Committee
(ERC) was established on 23rd January, 2015 to
propose reforms to our electoral system.

It was against that backdrop that ERC proposed a
change in the date for the conduct of general
elections from 7th of December to the first Monday
of November in an election year.

According to the committee, holding the
presidential and parliamentary elections in
November would allow for sufficient time between
elections and the handing over of power to an
incoming government.

It would be recalled that the first Gazette
notification of the amendment bill was published
on March 9, 2016.

After it was gazetted, a period of three months
was needed before the second gazette.

It took 10 days after the second gazette which
matured on June 9 before it was pushed to the
Council of State for further consideration.

“That is where we are now. I so refer to the
Council of State,” Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho
said.

Source - Today Newspaper

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