As critics debate the feasibility of Ghanaians voting on November 7 for the 2016 elections, the Electoral Commission has said it is working towards the elections with both dates in mind and that voting could take place in November or the usual December 7 .
According to the Commission, it is putting measures in place to ensure that Ghanaians go to the polls in November, but is also working towards December in case it is unable to meet the November deadline.
[contextly_sidebar id=”AmOaIrpwnbmw2BEiSeo6NRjW7Fg49DPr”]“…We are also working towards the 7th November, so that in case the 7th November goes through we can go by it, if not and its 7th December we can go by that. So both dates are possible but we are working towards the 7th November general elections,” the Director of Electoral Services, Samuel Tetteh said at a news conference today [Wednesday].
The Minority in Parliament have accused the EC of delaying in bringing the necessary documents to parliament to seek legal backing for the November 7 election date.
Chairman of the Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee, OB Amoah, had told Citi News that because of the delay, Parliament may have to sit on weekends to ensure that the Constitutional Instrument (CI) matures.
But addressing the media on Wednesday, the Director of Electoral Services, Samuel Tetteh, said they are optimistic that Ghanaians will vote in November.
Mr. Amoah believes the EC has not taken the necessary steps including producing a credible register in time, to ensure that the elections are held on the proposed date.
“We don’t have a certified register and we have three months to go into the election. We should have finished some of the processes by September. I can assure you on the floor that I will not vouch for November, ” O.B Amoah added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin