The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has proposed significant reforms aimed at improving the electoral process and ensuring a smooth and efficient voting experience for all citizens. One of the key proposals put forward by the EC is to adjust the voting time and close polling stations at 3pm instead of the previous practice of closing at 5pm.

The presidential and parliamentary election in 2024 will start at 7am and end at 3pm if the Electoral Commission (EC) is successful in carrying through proposals contained in a yet-to-be-laid Constitutional Instrument (C.I).

Currently, voting ends at 5 pm but the Director of Electoral Services for the Electoral Commission, Dr Serebour Quaicoe is convinced the creation of additional polling centres would enable voting to go faster thereby justifying the need to reduce the voting time by two hours.

He explained that if the time is shifted to 3pm, collating and counting of ballot papers can be done during the day.

“One of it [proposals] is for us to close at 3 o’clock because we’ve realise that most of the election by 1pm we are almost done and people do a lot of things under the cover of darkness,” he said in an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday.

Dr Quaicoe says the proposals among others, also seek to make the Ghana Card the sole means of identification for registration onto the voters register.

He added that the EC remains firm in its stance on the matter.

According to him, a special dispensation for females and disabled candidates is also included in the proposal.

The Electoral Commission also says renunciation of one’s citizenship to another country before filing of nominations is entirely the responsibility of the aspirant.

This, the EC says, is because it is difficult to investigate and verify the dual citizenship holders due to the multiple constituencies across the country and limited time.

“I don’t owe any allegiance should tell you that once you sign you are saying that you don’t have … because you have sworn before a court, it is not just by word of mouth. If the person has a dual citizenship and doesn’t tell you, how would you know?”

According to him, an investigation into such claims can only be possible when there is a tip off. He therefore urged aspirants to respect the system.