The Electoral Commission (EC) has indicated that its proposal to change the date for general elections from December 7 to November may not be implemented this year. 

Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Mr Eric Asare Bossman, stated that the necessary legislation for this change will be presented to Parliament soon.

Dr Bossman clarified that the move is not expected to affect the upcoming polls, and the Commission will work towards implementing it in 2028.

The proposal to change the election date and designate election days as national holidays was presented during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in January.

The Commission argued that making election days, national holidays, could enhance civic engagement and contribute to a more robust democratic culture.

“That was agreed with the political parties that in the event we cannot marshal the forces of IPAC to have it in November in 2020, the commission should take steps to ensure that in 2028, we are going to have it in November,” he said at the launch of Joy News’ 2024 election coverage.

However, some Ghanaians, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), opposed the idea, citing the consensus that major electoral reforms should take effect from November 2028.

Dr Asare Bossman emphasised that the change in the election date, when implemented, will be a selected day in November, not specifically November 7, providing flexibility for scheduling.