On Monday, January 29, the Electoral Commission (EC) is scheduled to convene with various political parties at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to continue discussions on its proposal to change the date for the general elections.
The proposed amendment suggests shifting the date for both Presidential and Parliamentary elections from December 7 to November 7.
The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed opposition, citing concerns that the proposed timeline may not provide the EC with sufficient time to organize a seamless election.
In contrast, sources within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suggest that the party’s leadership is still deliberating on the matter before arriving at a decision.
In a noteworthy development, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reversed its earlier decision to boycott IPAC meetings. The party communicated this reversal in a statement dated Sunday, January 28, 2024, signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
IPAC meetings play a crucial role in facilitating a platform for political parties to review election-related activities and policies, express grievances officially, and contribute constructive inputs.
Additionally, IPAC serves as an advisory body to the Electoral Commission.
The NDC’s leadership had boycotted IPAC meetings in 2021, citing perceived bias and lack of transparency during the 2020 general elections. However, in their recent statement, the NDC stated that the decision to rescind the boycott was made through “enhanced consensus-building.”