The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed skepticism about the preparedness of the Electoral Commission to conduct the November general elections.
The NPP’s 2016 Campaign Manager, Peter Mac Manu, made the suggestion at a public forum on the Constitutional Amendment Bill which is currently underway in Accra.
The EC triggered the necessary legislative instruments to allow it organize elections on November 7 instead of the usual December 7 schedule.
The NPP argues that, even though it will be good to hold elections in November, the Electoral Commission has failed to resolve some key issues that will enable it to smoothly run the upcoming elections.
“CI75 in the offing which is regulations on elections, that is on the table for amendment, when is it to mature so that it can take effect for the upcoming elections looking at the date and that even when the amendment is passed by Parliament you will still need a CI which will also take another 21 days. Are we ready for that? These are issues but I can assure you that the NPP is ready for the election any day and any time,” Mac Manu added.
Meanwhile the governing National Democratic Congress said it will comply with the outcome of the bill which seeks to change the election date because there is no political advantage or disadvantage to be gained from a change in date.
The General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia represented the party at the public forum organized by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee of Parliament on the constitutional Amendment bill 2016.
About the forum
The forum is being held by the Committee to solicit the input of the public on the new legislation on change of the election date.
Members of the committee are however unhappy about the absence of the Electoral Commission at the Forum
