President declares December 7 as public holiday to observe Covid-19 safety protocols during elections
President declares December 7 as public holiday to observe Covid-19 safety protocols during elections
In order to ensure a strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols on election day, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has declared the coming Monday, 7th December 2020, as a public holiday.
According to a statement from the Presidency, this decision is to facilitate the conduct of the election in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also to help ensure strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols on election day, and enable registered voters to exercise their franchise in safety with minimal inconvenience.
The statement also indicated that a proposal that is supported by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), was sent to the presidency by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa, which informed the President’s decision to declare December 7, as a statutory holiday.
Farmers’ Day celebrations which is expected to be observed on Friday, December 4,2020, according to the statement 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.
President Akuffo-Addo is however satisfied that it will be inexpedient for Friday, 4th December 2020, which is a statutory public holiday, to be observed as a public holiday, since the Farmers’ Day has already been marked exactly a month ago.
Hence, Friday December4, 2020, will not be observed as a 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.
Moreover, the twelve (12) political parties contesting in this year’s elections had all agreed to the EC’s proposal to make December 7, a statutory holiday.
Source: Editor/www.newslinegh.com
Exclusively Newslinegh
Newslinegh.com 
Leave a Reply