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President Akufo-Addo has served notice he is not interested in a possible extension of his first term constitutional mandate though the Covid-19 pandemic appears to distort Ghana’s political calendar.
The country’s Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah made this known during a press briefing on the country’s Covid-19 status which currently stands at 5,127 on Tuesday.
There have been uncertainty in the conduct of Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections in December this year following the suspension of all electoral activities in the wake of the outbreak.
While some are of the view that the Electoral Commission cannot compile a new register due to time constraints, others believe that resorting to some constitutional provisions is the way to go.
While appreciating the comments from all quarters, the Information Minister clarified that the development is not on the table for consideration as at yet.
The Ofoase Ayirebi legislator indicated that just as other countries such as Ivory Coast and Burundi are considering ways of holding elections in the wake of the pandemic, Ghana should also invest its energies in exploring how to do same.
“The government is of the view that instead of contemplating measures that are not envisaged in the constitution, our best energies, our innovation and creativity should be invested in exploring how a country like ours can have safe and free elections,” the Ofoase/Ayirebi lawmaker said.
A media practitioner and Host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has already ruled out any possibility of the Chief Justice ascending to the highest office of the presidency in case there is no general election due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in Ghana.
Mr. Adom-Otchere said the option would be impossible since it has no grounds in the country’s legal framework.
The Electoral Commission was forced to suspend indefinitely plans to compile a new voters register which was scheduled to begin on April 18, due to COVID-19.
The EC had said it was collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date depending on the prevalence rate of the Novel Coronavirus.
It, however, indicated on Monday, April 11, 2020 that it will observe the necessary protocols when it begins the compilation of a new voters register.
Source: Daily Mail with additional files from CNR
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