THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has stated categorically that the date — December 8 — set for the conduct of this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections cannot be changed.
He said the 1992 Constitution provides a time-frame for the fixing of the date for the conduct of general elections and any date that would be fixed outside that date would be unconstitutional.
Dr Afari-Gyan disclosed this after the signing of a ?4.1 billion agreement for the replacement of thumbprint voter identity cards (ID) with photo ID cards in Accra yesterday.
It would be recalled that individuals, opinion leaders and the faithful of certain religious beliefs have in recent times appealed to the EC to fix a new date for this year’s general elections to take due account of the religious and cultural beliefs and practices of the people.
Last Friday, Alhaji Issaka Inusah, former leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who recently defected to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in an interview with the Graphic, added his voice to the calls for the change of the date announced by the EC for the elections.
He argued that December 8, 2000, would fall on Friday in the Holy Islamic month of Ramadan (month of fasting) and that the combined effects of the fasting and attendance at Friday prayers might prevent tens of thousands of Muslims from exercising their franchise.
Earlier, Mr Aurelius Awuku, a resident of Teshie in Accra, had challenged the constitutionality of the decision by the EC to conduct the presidential and parliamentary polls on December 8.
He said the EC, in fixing this year’s date acted unconstitutionally and called for a review of the date.
Those arguing for the postponement of the elections date on religious grounds contend that the date is not suitable to millions of the country’s Muslims and has the potential of denying them of their franchise if it is maintained.
Dr Afari-Gyan said the EC cannot fix a new date for the polls because there are definite rules, regulations and laws governing the fixing of the date.
He said “there is nothing that the EC can do,” adding that the EC’s decision is irreversible because it is legally and constitutionally debarred.
On preparations for the elections, Dr Afari-Gyan said the EC categorised the exercise into three phases and is working to achieve peaceful and fair elections.
He explained that the first phase, which is the revision of the voters register, has been completed.
He said the second phase, involving the replacement of the thumbprint identity cards (ID) with photo ID cards, is underway and would be completed on November 18.
He said the first two phases would cost ?23 billion while the last phase, which would involve the process of voting, is estimated at ?23 billion.
