A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has argued against the advisability of the Electoral Commission accommodating the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s request to change the date for the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, he contends that agreeing to such a change could set a precedent for similar requests in the future.
He emphasizes the constitutional guarantee of the free expression of religion in Ghana, coupled with the acknowledgment that the country is a secular state.
Prof. Gyampo expressed concern that altering the election date based on religious preferences might project one religious group’s beliefs over others, potentially leading to a series of similar requests.
“With the greatest of respect to them, Ghana is our constitution that guarantees the free expression of our religion. At the same time, the constitution says we are a secular state. And so if it is a secular state, people have the right to exercise their religion, but this must not be exercised in a manner that sort of projects their religious beliefs and faith and ideals over those of the other people who also have different religious beliefs and faith and ideals.”
“So the point is that given that it is a secular state any day is fine. Otherwise, if we allow this tomorrow if election day is on Friday, Muslims will tell us that, well, they go to the mosque on Friday and go, we shouldn’t. If it falls on Sunday, you have a ponderance, majority of Ghanaians being Christian, they may say that it is going to disturb the day selected to worship their God.”
Asserting that any day is suitable in a secular state, he cautions against allowing religious beliefs to dictate election dates.
He provided examples of potential future scenarios where different religious groups might request changes based on their respective holy days, leading to confusion and factionalism in the political landscape.
“So long as the fundamental laws of the land says you’re a secular country, we should be careful not to allow all religious beliefs and sects to also come in making pleas and demands.”
“Today it is SDA if it is granted, tomorrow it will be Harikrishnas, Muslims, Christians and it creates a state of confusion and a state of factionalism in the body politics. It’s not something that we should encourage.”
Prof. Gyampo acknowledges that voting is a national duty but argues for the importance of individuals having the choice to prioritize their religious obligations over voting.
He underscored the need to be cautious about allowing various religious beliefs and sects to make pleas and demands, as it could lead to a divisive and confused political environment.
The context for this discussion arises from the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s request to move the 2024 December 7 election date, falling on a Saturday, to a different day due to Sabbath conflicts.
The church proposes the first or second Tuesday as a more convenient alternative to uphold inclusive democracy. Additionally, they are pursuing a constitutional amendment to broaden the scope of organizing parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana.
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