The Council of State has presented its report on the bill proposed to change the date of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana from December 7 to the first Monday in November.

According to him, the bill has been referred to the constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs Committee of the House for consideration and report.

“I did not refer the bill to the appropriate committee on that day during the first reading in view of the pending advice from the Council of State. I now wish to inform you that I have received the advice from the Council of State. It is my duty now to refer the bill together with the advice from the Council of State to the committee on constitutional and legal affairs. Honourable Members of Parliament I refer the constitutional amendment in 2016 together with the advice from the Council of State to the committee of the constitution of legal and parliamentary affairs for consideration and report,” the Speaker said.

The Electoral Commission had earlier said it was optimistic that this year's general elections will come off on November 7 as planned, contrary to concerns raised by some Members of Parliament (MPs) about the proposed date.

Some MPs have said changing the date from December 7 to November 7 might be cumbersome.

The Commission, in October 2015, announced plans to organise the general elections on November 7 instead of December 7.

The move was to enable the Commission to organize a run-off in case no presidential candidate is able to secure the 50%-plus-one vote needed for a first round victory.