Asiedu Nketiah Urges Religious Groups to Back Tuesday Election Proposal
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on religious organisations to support proposed constitutional amendments to permanently fix presidential and parliamentary elections on Tuesdays. Speaking at the centenary celebration of the Sekyedumase Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Ashanti Region, he said the change would prevent elections from repeatedly clashing with days of worship. He recalled that the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Saviour Church of Ghana petitioned authorities ahead of the 2024 elections, which fell on a Saturday, over concerns about religious freedom and citizens’ ability to vote without compromising their faith. Mr Nketiah said similar concerns had been raised by other Christian denominations and Muslims, making a permanent solution necessary. “Fixing the election on a Tuesday will obviously provide a lasting solution that respects all religious faiths and prevent the recurring disagreements when the election falls on a day of worship,” he said.
Mr Nketiah urged religious bodies to work together to advance the amendment, arguing that citizens should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote without hindrance. Thomas Techie Ocran, President of the Southern Ghana Union Conference of the SDA Church, has similarly argued that changing the election date would help voters fulfil both their civic and religious obligations. Beyond the proposed reform, Mr Nketiah urged church leaders to incorporate civic education into their teachings and help nurture patriotic, law-abiding citizens. He also expressed concern about rising hate speech and political intolerance, calling on religious organisations to use their influence to promote unity, tolerance and national stability.
