info@businessghana.com
Elections are the heartbeat of Ghana’s democratic tradition.
Since 1992, December 7 has been the chosen date to exercise this civic right, marking a crucial stage every four years in the country’s democratic journey.
But the choice of date—fixed on the calendar but fluid on the week—has stirred debate over the years.
Should the exercise of our democratic franchise continue to coincide, however inadvertently, with days for religious worship, cultural rites or livelihood obligations?
The answer may well lie in the context of Ghanaian life.
The time has come to examine, with sober reflection and civic responsibility, whether our electoral process might benefit from a fixed day of the week—specifically, the first or second Wednesday of December in an election year.
Such a change, while seemingly procedural, would represent a profound step forward in making Ghana’s democracy more inclusive, practical and reflective of our lived realities.
Religious observance is central to Ghanaian life. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, for instance, observe Saturday as the Sabbath—a sacred day of rest and worship during which secular activities, including voting, are eschewed.
In one memorable case during my postgraduate studies, an SDA course mate declined to write a major exam scheduled on a Saturday.
He did not take the paper at all—so strong was his conviction. How do we then expect devout citizens to vote in elections held on Saturday?
Christians who worship on Sundays face a similar tension.
Though many make the effort to vote before or after church services, this dual obligation inevitably compromises their attention and ease.
For Muslims, Friday is equally sacred, with congregational prayers taking place in the early afternoon.
Standing in a long queue to vote or travelling to a polling centre can become an unintentional obstacle to prayer.
Religious inconvenience is only one part of the puzzle.
Culturally, funerals in Ghana are held primarily from Friday to Sunday, with Mondays often used for family gatherings.
These ceremonies are not optional for many; they are deeply woven into the Ghanaian social fabric.
For those with close ties to the deceased, travel often begins on Thursday, meaning an election that falls between Friday and Sunday risks significant absenteeism.
Similarly, traditional economic activities cannot be brushed aside.
Fisherfolk typically use Tuesday and Friday as days of rest and net mending.
Many farmers, especially those who lack hired labour, work on Saturdays to make the most of their limited resources.
Fixing elections on any of these days, therefore, can interfere with their productivity, income and civic engagement.
Taking all this into account, Wednesday emerges as a uniquely neutral day—a middle ground that avoids most religious, cultural and occupational clashes.
A midweek election day would also allow institutions, such as schools, district offices and the Electoral Commission, to coordinate more efficiently with full staffing and better logistical access.
Globally, established democracies have adopted fixed election days to ensure consistency and citizen preparedness.
The United States, whose constitutional influence on Ghana is significant, holds elections on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
The United Kingdom, whose parliamentary model also shaped our governance system, holds elections on Thursdays.
The case for Ghana is even more pressing. The 1992 Constitution draws from both the American and Westminster systems.
Yet, unlike these nations, our elections fall on a calendar date rather than a fixed weekday.
This creates unpredictability, undermining the very order and participation our Constitution seeks to uphold.
Fixing a consistent day of the week—such as the first or second Wednesday in December—would not require a wholesale constitutional overhaul. It would be a practical amendment, aligning our democratic traditions with our cultural, religious and economic realities.
Ghana has every reason to lead the way in rethinking democratic processes in Africa.
Fixing an election day on a weekday that works for the majority of Ghanaians is more than an administrative matter; it is a commitment to equity, participation and good governance.
Civil society organisations, religious bodies, political parties, traditional authorities and the Electoral Commission must begin a national conversation on this matter.
The Constitution Review Committee should find this worth considering.
The aim should not be political advantage, but national consensus—one that strengthens democracy by ensuring that no Ghanaian is forced to choose between faith, culture, work and country.
In an era when voter apathy is a growing concern and logistical complexities are rising with each election, a fixed election weekday offers a beacon of clarity and inclusion.
Let us dig beneath the surface of tradition and explore a new, practical standard that better serves our people.
After all, democracy works best not when it is convenient for a few, but when it listens and adjusts to the needs of the many.
