VIDEO: “It Is A Common Sense Matter” – Tamale South MP Blasts EC Over Electoral Reforms

Former Minority Leader and Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, has joined voices in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) kicking against the implementation of a new date for the country’s general elections.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting held as part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s “Building Ghana Tour” in Gushegu, Haruna Iddrisu asserted that such a move undermines the rights of the electorate and defies common sense.

The legislator, in his address, stressed the fundamental nature of the right to vote, enshrined under Article 42 of the constitution.

He fervently argued that any alteration to the voting time would inevitably impede the electorate’s capacity to fully exercise this sacred right, regardless of the length of the queue.

“It is a common sense matter,” stated Haruna Iddrisu. “Some people can finish voting at 10 am because their numbers are inadequate. It makes common sense that whenever you have a queue of Ghanaians, even up to 11 pm, legitimacy and constitutionalism require that you respect the right to vote.”

Expressing apprehension regarding the potential consequences of the Electoral Commission’s proposed amendment, Haruna Iddrisu underscored the significant constitutional challenge it presents.

He emphasized that changing the voting time would require amending two articles of the constitution, suggesting that achieving consensus in Parliament could pose considerable difficulty.

“We do not think that parliament may be able to build a consensus on that matter because it will require a constitutional amendment of two articles,” emphasized Haruna Iddrisu.

 

Watch the video below

credit: JoyNews

 

 

Moreover, he stressed the importance of maintaining the use of indelible ink for the election, underlining its crucial role in preserving the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.

“Why did you use it (Indelible Ink) for NPP primaries and all of a sudden it is not relevant for the general election? Go and think again but we would want results aggregated Polling station by polling station, Constituency by Constituency, he added 

 

Watch the video below

credit: xyz online

 

 

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has declared its intention and is making plans to change the election date from December 7 to November 7. The decision follows a proposal from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for the amendment of the December 7, 2024, election date to a different day.

The SDA church wants the date moved since it is a Saturday and a day of worship for the church. The EC subsequently welcomed the idea and suggested that the voting date be moved to November 7.

An Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to deliberate on the change of the date for the 2024 general election was held in Accra on Monday, January 29, 2024.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the various political parties that make up IPAC.

The meeting, which started at 10:30 a.m. with the two Deputy Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) -Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare; and Operations, Samuel Tettey, at the helm of affairs was afford IPAC members an opportunity to discuss the EC’s proposal to move the election date from the traditional December 7 to November 7 and also make it a holiday.

While the EC maintained that it could go through the needed processes to effect the change of date, some of the political parties said activating such a move in an election year was too short a period.

However, the parties have agreed in principle that the processes for the change in election date could begin after the 2024 elections and be applied in the 2028 elections.

 

 

THANK YOU for constantly reading stories on MyGhanaMedia.com, a news publishing website from Ghana. Kindly like, follow, comment, and SHARE stories on all social media platforms for more entertaining updates!