The National Democratic Congress (NDC), the opposition party, and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana have both voiced disapproval of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) plan to end the 2024 elections at 3:pm.
In the general elections of 2024, the EC has defended its choice to move the voting deadline from 5:00 p.m.to 3:00 p.m.
The goal of this modification, according to EC Chairperson Jean Mensa, is to make it easier for election officials to count votes in broad daylight in a transparent and organized manner.
Richard Ahiagbah, the director of communications for the NPP, has pleaded with the EC to make sure that the proposed amendment does not deny eligible voters their right to vote.
He stated that the party would only approve the plan if the Commission guaranteed that voters would receive the comfort they are entitled to and that none would be turned away in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, December 14.
“We receive that with some cautious optimism, to the extent that the EC can provide us with the necessary comfort that electorates would not be found wanting on the day of the election. But assuming that they provide that comfort for us, it is ideal for us to be able to close the polls early so that collation and things that need to be done to prepare results are done in daylight before dark.”
“So I think that is the import of that proposal that we first need to be sure that it will not result in people being turned away,” he stated.
The NDC’s deputy general secretary, Mustapha Gbande, warned that the party would resist any attempts by the EC to rig the results of the election to benefit a specific political party in his comments on Citi FM.
He emphasized that the party is not yet ready to comment on the EC’s position.
“For us, we welcome a response that will give Ghanaians a feeling that there’s a credible, transparent general election at the end of the day. We have resolved as a party that we are going into 2024 with full force, we are going to an election to win. Rigging that election is a great impossibility and will be resisted with all force, so it behoves on the EC to assure all political parties of a transparent election.”
He added, “That will be a big relief for this country. It’s early days yet, we will see as the conversation unfolds what our technical directors will advise the party to do, what the NPP will come up with, and what other parties will come up with.”
