Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, also known as COKA, has urged the leadership of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church to encourage their members to participate in the upcoming December 7, 2024 elections, despite the day coinciding with the Sabbath, a day of worship for Adventists.
According to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, general elections are held on December 7 every four years, a practice that has remained unchanged.
However, the 2024 election, falling on a Saturday, presents a challenge for members of the SDA community, who observe the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
SDA members’ potential impact on the election
COKA, the former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), emphasized the significant voting power of the SDA Church, noting that the community has a membership of over 800,000, with 70% being youth.
He stressed that their participation in the elections could make a substantial difference, citing past elections where political parties have won with margins as small as 50,000 votes.
“Yes, the Sabbath holds deep spiritual significance for Adventists, but they know that the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people and not the other way around,” COKA said.
He appealed to the SDA leadership to reconsider their stance and encourage their members to vote on the designated day.
Future changes to voting day in progress
COKA praised the SDA leadership for engaging with Parliament and the Electoral Commission in advocating for a future change in the election date to accommodate their religious beliefs.
He revealed that discussions are underway to move the election date to the first Tuesday in November by 2028, a measure aimed at ensuring inclusivity for all religious groups.
“All stakeholders, including political parties, have agreed to put measures in place to ensure that the law is changed to favor all religious groups,” COKA added.
In the meantime, he encouraged the SDA leadership to motivate their members to vote in the 2024 elections while awaiting the future legal changes.
