President Akufo-Addo Urges SDA Church to Soften Stance on 2024 Election Date

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Ghana to reconsider its stance on the 2024 General Election date and find a way to balance its religious beliefs with civic responsibilities.

In an address to the Third Special Congregation of Valley View University (VVU) in Accra, the President acknowledged that the SDA Church has every right to express its concerns about the election date falling on a Saturday, but urged the leadership to explore practical solutions that would enable its members to exercise their franchise.

The SDA Church has submitted a memorandum to Parliament calling for an amendment to the election date, citing religious liberty grounds.

According to the Church, the 1996 election date fell on a Saturday, resulting in a significant number of Adventist voters refraining them from voting.

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The Church is much concerned that history is likely to repeat itself if nothing is done about the said date which could disenfranchise about a million  Seventh Day Adventist voters in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The President underscored that the right to vote is a sacred right bestowed upon citizens, and urged the Church to work towards finding a solution that would not leave any eligible voter behind.

He acknowledged that multi-party democracy is participatory and inclusivity and that the Government is committed to involving all sections of society in ensuring good governance and the rule of law.

The President’s appeal comes as a surprise, given his initial response to the Church’s concerns.
In a statement earlier this year, he rejected the Church’s call for an amendment, citing the country’s constitutional requirement for general elections to be held every four years on December 7.

However, it appears that the President has since changed his stance, recognizing the importance of finding a solution that respects both religious beliefs and civic responsibilities.

The SDA Church has welcomed the President’s new approach and is expected to continue engaging with him and other stakeholders to find a mutually acceptable solution.

President Akufo-Addo who was the Special  Guest of Honor at the Third Special Congregation of Valley View University was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree for his contributions to public service, human rights, and development.

He was also honored for his instrumental role in promoting peace in sub-Saharan Africa, regional stability, freedom of the media, and major reforms in Ghana’s legal and foreign policy frameworks.

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