The Seventh-day Adventist Church has said every Ghanaian must exercise his or her constitutional right during electoral processes.
According to the church, they don’t want anyone to be disenfranchised during this year’s general elections.
To this end, the SDA church has petitioned the Electoral Commission to make an amendment to the December 7, 2024 general elections.
They said, 7th December falls on Saturday, which according to the church is Sabbath and that it should be observed as a holy day dedicated to the worship of God.
“The preposition from the Aventist church is to help deepen electoral democracy and ensure that none is excluded from participating in the electoral process.”
In the petition, the church proposed the first or second Tuesday of November to hold the elections.
“In anticipation of changing the date for general elections from December 7 to the first (1st) or second (2nd) Tuesday of November, the Leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church met with the Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.” The church said in a statement copied to Elvisanokyenews.com.
“The Church proposed to the EC a change from the December 7 date to the 1st or 2nd Tuesday of November in a general elections’ year.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Church added that they are considering petitioning the Attorney General for the amendment of the constitutional provisions which restricts the period of organizing parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana.
“It is the considered view of the church that this Bill should be sponsored by the office of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General (Executive) because of its nature. Hence, the request of this meeting with the honourable Minister in that Regard.” Part of the statement read.
The Republic of Ghana will hold Parliamentary and Presidential elections on December 7th 2024.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday.
Below is the full statement
GHANA ELECTIONS DATE CHANGE FROM DECEMBER 7 TO 1ST/2ND TUESDAY OF NOVEMBER AMENDMENT BILL
1. Persuant to the work of the Constitutional Review Commission (2021) and that of the Electoral Reform Committee (2025), particulary in reference to:
i. Paragraph 265 at page 193, the CRC recommended the period for elections “not later than 6o days to the installation of new President and Parliament on January 7th.”
ii. Likewise, the ECRC suggested a date change from “December 7 to November 7” in proposal 8 on page 10 and 11:
The Seventh-Day Adventist church, SDA is proposing an amendment of non-entrenched Article 112(4) for Parliamentary elections to meet the period guarrenteed in Article 63(2) for presidential elections to be christened “Ghana Elections’ date amendment Bill”
2. It is the considered view of the church that this Bill should be sponsored by the office of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General (Executive) because of its nature. Hence, the request of this meeting with the honourable Minister in that Regard.
3. In anticipation of changing the date for general elections from December 7 to the first (1st) or second (2nd) Tuesday of November, the Leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church met with the Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
4. The Church proposed to the EC a change from the December 7 date to the 1st or 2nd Tuesday of November in a general elections’ year.
5. The outcome of the meeting with the EC a change from December 7 date to the 1st and 2nd Tuesday of November in a general elections’ year.
6. The preposition from the Aventist church is to help deepen electoral democracy and ensure that, none is excluded from participating in the electoral process
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
