The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has made significant decisions regarding the governance of the upcoming 2024 General Election. Following an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting chaired by Mrs Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the EC, it has been announced that plans to use a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) for the election have been aborted.
One of the key implications of this decision is that the Ghana Card will not be the sole identity document for the next voters’ registration exercise ahead of the General Election. Instead, the existing C.I. 126, which recognizes the use of the passport and the guarantor system as valid means for new registrants to prove their identity as Ghanaians, will be maintained.
Furthermore, the EC has also decided to retain the guarantor system, which it had initially intended to abolish in subsequent registration exercises. This means that the guarantor system will be applicable for new registrants.
In addition, the EC has rescinded its decision to abolish the use of indelible ink in the 2024 Election. The Commission has also agreed to extend the next limited voters registration exercise beyond its district offices to cover electoral areas that are “hard to reach”.
Moreover, the EC has announced the creation of 4,000 more polling stations in addition to the over 38,000 existing polling stations for the 2024 General Election. The Commission has also tabled its calendar for the 2024 Election and granted political parties the opportunity to make input.
Representatives of major political parties have expressed their views on these decisions. Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Director of Elections, NDC, welcomed the EC’s decision to utilize the guarantor system in the next limited voters’ registration exercise. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that no eligible Ghanaian is disenfranchised.
On the other hand, Mr Evans Nimako, the Director of Elections, NPP, stated that while the NPP was in support of abolishing the guarantor system to sanitize the electoral roll, they would accept the EC’s decision and ensure that proper measures are taken to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
The EC’s 2024 Election program includes key dates such as the nomination of candidates for the presidential and parliamentary elections from September 9 to 13, 2024. Subsequently, there will be balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper on September 23, 2024, and for the parliamentary ballot on September 24, 2024. The Commission expects to declare the results of the 2024 presidential polls within three days of the voting exercise.
In conclusion, these decisions by the Electoral Commission will have a significant impact on the electoral process leading up to the 2024 General Election. It is imperative for all stakeholders to work together to ensure a fair and transparent election that upholds the democratic principles of Ghana.
-source GNA | curated by Tetteh Belinda | Mydailyreports24
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