The government has accepted the Committee's recommendation to amend Article 63(2)(a) of the Constitution to fix presidential elections within the first week of November. The exact date would be determined by the Electoral Commission through a constitutional instrument.
Officials believe the change would provide greater clarity for everyone involved in the electoral process.
According to the government's position, "Fixing the election period within the first week of November provides certainty and predictability in the electoral calendar."
The response noted that a clearly defined election period would allow the Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society organisations and international observers to prepare well in advance.
Government also argues that holding elections earlier would create a more orderly transition period before the swearing-in of a new President on January 7, reducing time pressures between the declaration of results and the transfer of power.
New deadlines proposed for election petitions
The government has also accepted recommendations to reform Article 64, introducing firm deadlines for filing and determining presidential election petitions.
Under the proposal, any Ghanaian citizen would be permitted to challenge the validity of a presidential election by filing a petition at the Supreme Court within 14 days after the official declaration of results.
The Supreme Court, in turn, would be constitutionally required to determine the petition within 30 days of its filing.
Government says the current constitutional framework does not prescribe a specific period for concluding presidential election disputes, a gap the reforms seek to address.
"The proposed amendments will promote the timely resolution of election disputes and enhance public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process," the government's response stated.
Electoral Commission to disclose election data
Another key feature of the proposal is a new obligation on the Electoral Commission to promptly disclose all relevant election data and evidence to the court and the parties involved in any petition.
The government believes this will improve transparency and ensure petitioners have access to the information needed to prosecute their cases effectively.
Officials say the combined 14-day filing period and 30-day determination window strike "a reasonable balance between the need for expedition and the requirement of procedural fairness."
The proposed reforms form part of a wider constitutional review agenda expected to shape Ghana's electoral and governance framework in the years ahead.
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