December 7 Remains Election Day

December 7 Remains Election Dayarliament Thursday failed to meet the two-thirds majority required under Article 291(3) to carry through with the amendment to make November 7 election day.

Heated debates characterized the second reading of the Bill which sought to amend the un-entrenched Article 112(4) of the 1992 Constitution to ensure effective and smooth transition of government.

While the Minority members were against the passage of the Amendment Bill on the grounds that the Electoral Commission is not ready to conduct the polls in November, the Majority Caucus advanced the argument that, the Amendment will give ample time for the right procedures to be followed in a transition and eliminate the acrimony that comes-up with the current short Presidential transition period.

After secret voting on the Amendment, 125 voted in favour while 95 voted against.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, who moved the Motion for the debate on the Constitutional Amendment, justified the essence of the amendment.

She said the amendment will cure the insufficient period for a smooth transition from one government to the other.

The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, says the failure to make November 7 election day is that of strategic convenience and not the spirit of the Bill.

He spoke to Radio Ghana’s Augustus Acquaye after the voting on the Amendment by Parliament.

Dr. Dominic Ayine said moving forward, the AG is committed to re-introducing the Amendment in the next parliament.
Prior to the casting of the secret ballot on the Constitution Amendment there were heated debates on it.

The Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin said the EC is ready logistically and financially for the election.

The Minority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wondered why government failed to come up with the Amendment to Parliament earlier than it did.