The National Democratic Congress' Director of Elections, Dr. Omane Boamah, has asserted that the Electoral Commission (EC) cannot conduct the upcoming year's election in November due to a delayed proposal.

Dr. Boamah emphasizes that major electoral reforms should not be introduced in an election year, especially after a problematic District Level (Assembly) Elections marked by numerous postponements, ballot paper shortages, and complicity among election officers.

On Monday, January 29, the NDC supported changing the national election day but proposed initiating the reform in 2028. This decision followed an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting discussing the EC's proposal.

Dr. Boamah, in a Facebook post, criticized the EC for waiting seven years after 2016 to revisit the election date issue, only to bring it up when there are just ten clear months until the December 07 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana.

“You don’t wait for an election year to introduce major Electoral Reforms: a year in which the EC has so much to do after an abysmal District Level (Assembly) Elections characterised by postponements after postponements, shortage of ballot papers, some Election officers complicity among others,” he added.

He questioned why the EC did not address these matters in the years following 2016 or after the 2020 elections, emphasizing the impracticality of introducing major electoral reforms in an election year when the EC is already burdened.

“Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission’s calendar of programmes and activities for the upcoming elections is not yet ready; hence, could not be released to political parties,” he added.

Dr Boamah queried why the EC waited for January to end without stakeholders having the electoral calendar for the 2024 elections.

“Why did the EC not introduce these discussions, adjustments, and amendments in 2017, 2018, 2019, or better still, why not after the 2020 elections? As in, introducing the subject matter in 2021, 2022, and 2023?”

“This amendment of a non-entrenched clause requires two-thirds of MPs to pass, meanwhile the MPs themselves must be in their constituencies for some parts of this year campaigning, facilitating the registration of voters when the EC finally decides. Not to think of the duration of the process and other germane issues the EC mustbring to the front burner,” he added.

Moreover, Dr. Boamah points out that the EC has not released the calendar of programs and activities for the upcoming elections, making it challenging for political parties to prepare.

He urged the EC to amend Article 112 (4) of the 1992 constitution, highlighting the logistical challenges involved in the process, especially with MPs needing to be in their constituencies for campaigning and voter registration.

In summary, Dr. Omane Boamah criticizes the EC's timing and approach to electoral reforms, advocating for a more strategic and timely implementation to ensure a smooth electoral process.