Story by Atwumaa Agnes
Hassan Ayariga, the founder of the All People’s Congress (APC), has voiced out his opinion that the Electoral Commission of Ghana does not need to make any changes to the December 7 election date.
Hassan Ayariga has also suggested that the Electoral Commission work towards amending the 1992 Constitution, specifically the portions that mandate a runoff if no candidate secures at least 50 percent of the vote.
“I don’t think we need that [change in election date]. What we need is a different constitutional amendment to cancel the second round. Because their purpose of asking for the elections to be shifted to 7th November was not because of anything, but to give them time in case there is a runoff. For me, I think we should go a different step ahead and look at the issue of not necessarily having a runoff in our elections. But finding a way where we go for the first round, two parties emerge with the highest votes. They now find a way of having an inclusive government and taking from the other political parties who do not have 50 plus one to join and form a government’’, says Ayariga.
Additionally, Mr Ayariga has suggested that the party with the highest percentage of votes in an election should be required to choose members of the government from other political parties, to create a more inclusive and representative government. He believes that this would help to eliminate corruption and monopolies within the political system.
Source: Joy News