Africa-Press – Ghana. The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has urged Parliament to fast-track legislation setting a 120-day deadline for adjudicating parliamentary election petitions.
IDEG said enacting the law would prevent prolonged electoral disputes that could threaten Ghana’s democratic stability.
The recommendation follows the Strategic and Impactful Implementation of Electoral and Institutional Reforms in Ghana project, launched in 2023 by IDEG and the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), with European Union (EU) funding.
The project sought to advance key reforms recommended by the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) 2020 ahead of the 2024 elections.
At a post-election forum in Tamale, Mr. Kwesi Jonah, IDEG’s Research Fellow for Advocacy and Institutional Relations, stressed the need for legislative action to curb lengthy parliamentary disputes.
He noted that despite updates to the Judicial Service’s Election Adjudication Manual, the absence of enabling legislation meant no binding timeframe existed for resolving parliamentary petitions before the December 2024 elections.
“It is one thing to revise manuals; it is another to ensure implementation through law. Without legislation, the delays in resolving electoral disputes will persist,” he said.
IDEG proposed that Parliament and the Judiciary collaborate to pass a law requiring the resolution of parliamentary election disputes within 120 days, aligning with international best practices and strengthening electoral credibility.
The reform forms part of a broader post-2024 agenda to institutionalise timely and transparent electoral processes in Ghana’s democratic framework.
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