Experts caution Ghanaians on changing election date

Political pg Feb 14/2008


Story: Charles Benoni Okine

SOME governance experts have cautioned Ghanaians, particularly Christians, against any calls for a change in the date of this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
“We should remember that Ghana is a secular state; Ghana is not tied to any religious body and must be recognised as such in the interest of all”, they stressed and added that “religion should not be an issue at all as far as this voting date is concerned”
The experts, Mr Kwesi Jonah of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Mr Ransford Gyampo, a Political Science lecturer of the University of Ghana, Legon, gave the caution in two separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in reaction to concerns by sections of the public that should the December 7 date for the elections, which falls on a Sunday be allowed to stand, millions of Christians may not be able to vote.
The date is expected to generate a lot of debate with people expected to call for an amendment of the Constitution to fix a specific day for the elections.
Since the inception of the Fourth Republican Constitution, general elections have been held on weekdays.
For instance, the 2000 and 2004 general election days were Thursday and Tuesday respectively, and when it fell on a Saturday in 1996, the Adventists also raised issues about the date amidst threats of a boycott.
The experts cautioned Ghanaians against that this time round, in order not to prevent confusion in the country.
Mr Jonah said “we need not open a Pandora’s box over this issue because it is a non-starter”.
He said there were many other religious bodies in the country which would also complain should the date be changed to suit Christians.
“There are the Adventists who worship on Saturdays and that day they do not work; There are those traditionalists who also have some days on which they do not do anything but stay in the shrine with their followers alone; we also have the Buddhists and the Yogi here with us and they also have their days”, he said.
Mr Jonah said people could go to church and come to vote without any hindrance.
For his part, Mr Gyampo reiterated the issue about Ghana being a secular country for which reason no religious organisation can claim to be dominant when it comes to issues of national concern.
“We have nothing to worry about because we are all equal before the law”, he added.
Mr Gyampo said Christians could go to church and cast their ballot later and “I do not think this would affect them”.
Another issue that is also being advanced is the use of churches as polling stations on election day.
But Mr Gyampo was of the view that church services would not impact on the success of the elections.
“The Electoral Commission (EC) could discuss the issue with the churches and I believe a comprise could easily be reached on the use of their premises without any hitches, ” Mr Gyampo said.
Every religious body has a day it reveres and considers sacred and, therefore, Ghanaians need to be cautious when talking about the date.
“We all have rights and, therefore, no group should be considered to be more powerful than the other”, he added.