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A deputy attorney general, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, warned the Electoral Commission that, despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in the country, he has a constitutional mandate to hold the December 2020 general election at the time scheduled.
According to the Tempane MP, any move by the electoral management body to ignore constitutional provisions to hold the polls could create chaos and possibly lead to a constitutional crisis.
After a cabinet retreat to deliberate on COVID-19’s impact on the country, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told reporters on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 that the Akufo-Addo government sees “no reason justifiable “to seek to extend his first term” using the virus as an excuse, without a safe, free and fair choice. “
“The government is of the opinion that instead of contemplating measures that are not foreseen in the Constitution, our best energies, our innovation and creativity should be invested in exploring how a country like ours can have safe and free elections,” he said.
Despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the Electoral Commission recently released a statement saying that its intention to compile a new voter registry before the elections has not changed.
According to Mr. Kpemka, the EC must hold the elections because the 1992 Constitution requires it.
“The Electoral Commission has not done it, has not indicated anywhere that it does not have the capacity or is unable to fulfill its mandate under COVID-19. I have not heard that from the Electoral Commission. So, let us give them that benefit from the Doubt, “he told Blessed Sogah on the Class91.3FM State of the Nation program on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
He said delaying the elections would need a constitutional amendment.
“You see, it has no mandate to extend it without amending the Constitution. Unless someone wants to say that we have to act in a vacuum,” said Mr. Kpemka.
