Allow SDA Members to Join Security Agencies in Special Voting Bryan Acheampong Calls on EC

Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi in the Eastern region of Ghana, has called on the Electoral Commission to allow all Seventh-day Adventist Church members to take part in the special voting.  

Bryan Acheampong opines that since section of Ghanaians who worship on Saturday are not permitted, by their belief and religion to vote on the Sabbath day, it is imperative that the Electoral Commission implements measures that will allow members of the Seventh-day Adventist to vote alongside security agencies and other persons under the special voting list.

Posting on his official X page on Thursday, July 18, 2024, Mr. Acheampong stated that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a membership of over 800,000+ members spread all over the country therefore, they stand the chance of being disenfranchised if the Electoral Commission does not tag them alongside persons and agencies scheduled to take part in the special voting exercise.

His call comes on the back of the recent call by the SDA to have the date for the general election changed from the 7th since it falls on a Saturday, a day set aside to be observed as the Sabbath.  

"Kindly join me in calling on the EC to allow the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) to vote with the security agencies.

"The SDA has an 800,000+ strong Ghanaian membership that is disenfranchised because, by their faith, they do not work on Saturdays and, therefore, do not vote," his post read.

There have been calls from some civil society groups to have the date changed from the 7th to an appropriate day that best suits all worshippers irrespective of ones day of worship.

However, a section of the public have also called on the EC to have the day maintained.Kobina Darlington/