EC to deliberate over 2024 election date proposal with political parties today

The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to convene with various political parties today, Monday, January 29, during its Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, to further deliberate on the proposed change of date for the general elections.

Under the proposal put forth by the EC, both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be moved from December 7 to November 7.

While the EC pushes for this adjustment, the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has voiced its opposition, asserting that the proposed timeline does not afford the EC adequate preparation time to ensure a smooth and trouble-free election.

Contrarily, sources within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suggest that the party’s leadership is still contemplating the matter before arriving at a conclusive decision.

In a recent development, the NDC has decided to retract its previous stance of boycotting IPAC meetings. This decision was communicated through a statement dated Sunday, January 28, 2024, signed by the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

IPAC meetings serve as a platform for political parties to review election-related procedures and policies, voice their concerns, and contribute constructively to the electoral process. Additionally, IPAC functions as an advisory body to the Electoral Commission.

The NDC’s decision to rejoin IPAC discussions comes after a period of abstention dating back to 2021. The party had cited grievances with the perceived bias of the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission during the 2020 general elections as the basis for their boycott.

In their latest statement, the NDC cited “enhanced consensus-building” as the rationale behind their decision to rescind their boycott stance and re-engage with IPAC proceedings.