Election Day, 7th December 2020 is to be a public holiday. President Nana Akufo-Addo, declared today.
According to a release from the Jubilee House, the embattled President made the declaration using an Executive Instrument.
The statement which had been signed by Eugene Arhin, explained the declaration is aimed to help “facilitate the conduct of the election in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, help ensure strict observance of Covid-19 safety protocols on Election Day, and enable registered voters exercise their franchise in safety and with minimal inconvenience”.
The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) had earlier on Wednesday agreed with all political parties to propose to the Presidency through the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Interior to declare elections day, Monday, December 7, a public holiday.
Mr. Akufo-Addo has also revoked Friday, December 4 to be marked as a public holiday.
“This decision was taken following the submission of a proposal to the President by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa, a proposal which is supported by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), for Monday, 7th December, to be declared a public holiday to permit the safe exercise of the franchise, in the context of the pandemic,” the statement read.
“Under section 3 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), the President has the power to declare any other day as a public holiday, instead of a day specified as a statutory public holiday. Thus, with Farmers Day having been celebrated on Friday, 6th November 2020, the President is satisfied that it will be inexpedient for Friday, 4th December 2020, which is a statutory public holiday, to be observed as a public holiday,” the Presidency explained.