President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has declared Monday, 7th December 2020 as a public holiday.
A statement from the Presidency said this 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 to exercise their franchise in safety and with minimal inconvenience.”
The decision was taken following the submission of a proposal to the President by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa.
This proposal was supported by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
The statement also said Farmers Day which is expected to be observed on Friday, 4th December 2020, will no longer be a public 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.”
All the political parties had agreed to the EC’s proposal to make December 7, a statutory holiday.
The EC in a statement had explained that its proposal sought to “give registered voters the opportunity to devote the day to exercise their civic right and responsibility to vote during the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”
