The Council of State has backed reasons cited for the amendment of the Constitution to pave the way for the general election date to be changed from December 7 to November 7.
The Council believes the reasons such as the limited time for transition, and religious concerns with the original date are key, hence, the support for the change of date.
The report of the Council was presented to Ghana’s legislature Monday, July 04, 2016.
When passed, the bill will change the date of general elections in the country from December 7 to the first Monday in November in subsequent elections.
Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho announced on the floor of the House that he has forwarded the Council’s report to the Legal and Constitutional Committee for discussion.
“I did not refer the bill to the appropriate committee on that day during the first reading in view of the pending advice from the Council of State. I wish to inform you that I have received the advice from the Council of State. It is my duty now to refer the bill together with the advice from the Council of State to the committee on constitutional and legal affairs,” he said.
This, therefore, means that starting Tuesday, 05 July 2016, the Legal and Constitutional Committee of Parliament will commence consideration of the instrument for an onward forward to the entire House where it is expected to be approved overwhelmingly.
Vice Chairman of the Committee, George Loh, is positive minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MP) will back the proposed new date.
“The good thing about this bill is that talking across the aisle, we have virtually agreed that it is a good thing to do and that it serves both sides of the House,” he said.
The MPs, he disclosed believe the new date when approved will save them cost that comes with elongated campaigns.
“We think that it is better,” he said, noting, the “Electoral Commission thinks it is convenient to enable them to do proper planning.”
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