The Electoral Commission (EC) has dropped plans to eliminate the use of indelible ink in the upcoming 2024 general elections. The EC has also agreed to defer implementation of the proposed change of the date for Presidential and Parliamentary elections to 2028.
The fresh development follows protests by the largest opposition party, the NDC, a strong caution statement from the Catholic Bishops Conference and other stakeholders to the EC, against hasty decisions that could plunge the country into chaos.
Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Eric Asare Bossman, who confirmed this in an interview admitted the change of mind followed concerns raised by the public, Parliament, other smaller political parties and civil society members.
“After listening to the discussions, we have heard the concerns of the general public, we have heard the parliamentarians, we have heard the concerns of the NPP and the NDC and civil society members so we have concluded that if by using the ink people will have more trust in the process, why not?”. He explained.
In a related development, the EC has also indicated that the proposed change in the date for general elections from December 7 to November may not be implemented this year.
The Commission, at its recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024 proposed to move both Presidential and Parliamentary elections to a day in November and designating election days as national holidays.
But that again was rejected by the 2024 flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama and political analysts citing timing, and difficulty in meeting Constitutional obligations.
Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Eric Asare Bossman, has since watered-down growing agitations.
“So within the last few months, this is something the commission is going to trigger. That was agreed with the political parties, that in the event we cannot marshal the forces of IPAC to have it in November 2024, the commission should take steps to ensure that in 2028, we are going to have it in November.” he explained.
