Voting date will be changed on time - Bagbin

Parliament has expressed confidence in approving a bill to allow Ghanaians go to the polls on November 7 to elect a president and lawmakers rather than December 7 as has always been the case.

Although the EC has stated that it intends to hold the 2016 elections on November 7, the constitutional date for voting in Ghana is still December 7.

It is believed that voting to elect a president a month earlier would ensure adequate time for a smooth transition of power to the elected administration.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Class News’ parliamentary correspondent Ekow Annan, Majority leader Alban Bagbin expressed confidence the new date could be approved before the house rises again.

“We know that from the provisions in the constitution, the date as [of] now is December 7, but looking at our experience in the transition of the various changes that we have had so far, we have definitely had difficulties, and, so, the whole country has come together to propose that we shift it from the 7th of December to 7th November,” he stated.

Mr Bagbin admitted that changing the date takes time and explained the rigorous processes involved.

“A bill to that effect will be coming before the house. Now looking at the chapter on the amendment to constitutional provision is rather very tedious and time-consuming. You need to gazette that bill specifically meant for the amendment of the constitution twice and between the first gazetting and the second gazetting, you need three months and after the second gazetting, you need about 10 days before it is laid in the house and is referred to the Council of State and takes some 30 days before it comes back to the house and that is why people are worried whether we have enough time to be able to pass that bill before we rise at the end of July,” he explained.

The Nadowli Kaleo legislator noted that if leadership of the house has to recall members of parliament after their sitting to pass the bill, they will.

“… I did indicate to members that if that is the case, there is the possibility of an emergency recall of the house to consider the bill because it is very key to the success of our democracy, but as it is now, legally, it is still December 7, but the proposal is that we should change it to November 7 and we have all agreed that November 7 is a preferable date to December 7.

“It is just the details, procedure and processes that we are going through and I am sure we are capable of passing that law before that due date.”