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Hold Elections on November 7 to Allow Timely Resolution of Petitions — Baffoe-Bonnie Proposes
Chief Justice Nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has proposed that Ghana’s general elections be moved from December 7 to November 7, to allow adequate time for election petitions to be heard and determined before the swearing-in of a new government.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said the current one-month window between elections and inauguration leaves little room for a transparent and fair resolution of electoral disputes.
“After the election petition, we came to the conclusion that it should be possible to have petitions concluded before January 7, which is the inauguration day. The best suggestion that came up was to hold elections on November 7 or 8,” he said.
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He explained that holding elections earlier would give the Electoral Commission enough time to declare results by November 10, providing a 57-day window before January 7 for any petitions to be filed, heard, and concluded.
“Assuming we go by the 42-day window provided under CI 99, petitions can be filed, responded to, and tried within that period,” he noted.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also pushed for electronic service of court documents, saying the judiciary must leverage digital tools to reduce bureaucratic delays that slow down legal proceedings.
“In this age, we can use digital addresses, emails, or phone numbers for online contact. If petitions are served electronically, it can take three days instead of a week,” he said.
He added that if these reforms are adopted, all preliminary legal processes could be completed by the end of November, paving the way for trials to conclude within two weeks — ensuring fairness, efficiency, and certainty before a new president is sworn in.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s proposal comes amid ongoing discussions about judicial efficiency and electoral reforms ahead of Ghana’s 2028 general elections.
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