EC Postpones District Assembly and Unit Committee By-Elections Citing Operational Adjustments
Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the postponement of the scheduled District Assembly and Unit Committee by-elections. The decision, according to the Commission, is due to operational considerations that require additional time to ensure a smooth, credible, and well-coordinated electoral process.
In a public statement, the EC indicated that the postponement affects several electoral areas across the country where vacancies had arisen following resignations, deaths, or other disqualifying circumstances involving elected local representatives. The Commission explained that while preparations were underway, certain logistical and administrative changes made it necessary to adjust the timeline.
The EC emphasized that it is committed to running transparent and well-organized elections. To achieve this, the Commission must complete procurement processes, training activities, voter register updates, and ballot preparations. Any delay in these components, the EC argued, makes it difficult to guarantee an election that meets national and international standards.
Local government elections, though non-partisan, are critical to grassroots governance. District Assembly and Unit Committee members play a major role in community development, local decision-making, sanitation campaigns, security coordination, and monitoring of government projects. For this reason, the EC noted, it is essential that the electoral process is carried out without errors or logistical lapses.
The Commission also took the opportunity to encourage aspiring candidates to remain committed and prepared. It assured the public that a new date for the by-elections will be communicated soon after all administrative and operational issues have been resolved.
Stakeholders including civil society groups, local assembly officials, and community leaders have called on the EC to ensure that the rescheduled elections do not suffer from prolonged delays. They argue that leadership gaps at the local level affect service delivery, community mobilisation efforts, and the continuity of development initiatives.
Political analysts have also weighed in on the development, noting that while postponements are not unusual in electoral administration, transparency is essential. They highlighted the need for the EC to maintain clear communication with the public to avoid speculation or misinformation.
The EC reassured voters that it is enhancing its logistics management systems, improving election staff training, and updating its operational framework to address the growing complexity of managing decentralized elections. This includes ensuring electoral materials reach all districts on time and are accompanied by trained personnel capable of executing their duties effectively.
Furthermore, the Commission stated that collaboration with security agencies remains a priority to maintain order throughout the electoral process. With the upcoming local polls, security arrangements must be synchronized carefully, especially in districts where past elections have experienced crowding or disputes at polling stations.
The EC concluded by reaffirming its responsibility to uphold democratic values at every level of governance. It pledged that once operational arrangements are finalized, the new election dates will be announced publicly through traditional media and the Commission’s digital platforms.
For now, communities expecting to fill leadership gaps at the local level must wait a little longer, as the EC works to address the administrative adjustments needed to deliver credible by-elections.
