President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has by an Executive Instrument (EI) declared Monday, December 7 as a public holiday.
He has also revoked Friday, December 4 to be marked as a public holiday.
A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, on Wednesday, December 2 explained that the decision by President Akufo-Addo is to “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.
The statement confirmed: “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.”
Incidentally, Friday, December 4 was to be observed as Farmers Day.
But President Akufo-Addo notes that since the celebrations have been marked already – on Friday, November 6 – it will be inexpedient to have a statutory holiday.
“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.
“As such, Friday, 4th December 2020 will not be observed as a holiday.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana
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