EC Maintains December 7 Election Date
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana in conjunction with political parties in the country has agreed to maintain the 2024 General Election on December 7.
The Commission had earlier proposed a day in November; however it was opposed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who argued the EC would not be able to deliver its mandate effectively within the limited period.
In a communiqué released after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on March 7, the EC said the date will remain unchanged.
“The Commission informed the meeting that the date for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections namely; the 7th of December remains unchanged. In that vein, the election would be held on Saturday 7th December, 2024.”
Meanwhile, the Commission says it has commenced legal processes to move the date forward after the 2024 General Elections.
“Legal processes to move the General elections to November will however be commenced with the submission of a Memo to the Attorney General. The proposal to bring the election date forward to November will take place in 2028.”
Constitutional Instrument
The EC also agreed with the parties to maintain the existing Constitutional Instrument ahead of the Voter Registration Exercise and the General Elections.
It would be recalled that the EC had proposed a new CI that sought to replace the guarantor system for voter registration with the Ghana Card.
In its statement, the EC noted, “The existing C.I.s will remain in force.”
Indelible Ink
In December 2023, the Commission announced the elimination of indelible ink for voters. However, it appears it has rescinded the decision.
“The Electoral Commission will maintain the indelible ink as the electoral stain for the marking of voters in the 2024 General Elections,” its statement noted.
Filing Fees
The filing fees for Parliamentary candidates have also been maintained at GH¢10,000 while that of Presidential aspirants was also kept at GH¢100,000, the EC confirmed.
The cost was increased during the last elections.
“The filing fees for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections will remain the same as in 2020.”
Registration Exercise
According to the communiqué, a limited Voter Registration Exercise will take place from May 7 to May 27 at the District Offices of the EC.
It also plans to establish mobile teams in difficult-to-access Electoral Areas.
“The list of registration centres will be provided to the Political Parties no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Registration exercise.”
Read The Full Statement Here: COMMUNIQUE-ISSUED-AT-THE-END-OF-THE-MEETING-BETWEEN-THE-ELECTORAL-COMMISSION-AND-LEADERS-OF-POLITICAL-
