Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reconsider its proposed plan to close polls at 3 pm instead of 5 pm during the 2024 general elections.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs expressed concern that such a decision could potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.

Speaking during the budget approval debate for the EC on Wednesday, December 20, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu underscored the importance of maintaining the 5 pm voting schedule.

He referenced the recent district assembly elections, revealing that upon his arrival at the polling station, the voting materials had not yet arrived.

“The attempt to reduce voting time from 5 pm to 3 pm, we should interrogate it. I believe it is too early for the EC to do it. [On Tuesday] when I went to vote, the materials had not been assembled yet even though I got there at 8:15, I had to stay until 9:20 to start voting, already two hours wasted."

The Electoral Commission (EC) has defended its decision to change the closing time of voting from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm during the 2024 general elections.

EC Chairperson Jean Mensa highlighted that this adjustment is intended to facilitate the transparent and orderly collation of votes by electoral officers in broad daylight.