News:
September 5, 2012
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Electoral Commission of being inefficient in the discharge of its duties concerning the upcoming general elections especially the publication of the provisional voters register.
According to the group, Constitutional Instrument (C.I 72), 21(2) states that a copy of the provisional register shall be given to each registered political party in the form determined by the commission, including posting the provisional register on the website of the Commission.
Addressing a Press Conference in Accra, the Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu noted regrettably that almost 6 months from the end of the registration period and three months before the general elections, the parties have not been provided with the provisional register.
He said the EC is not only dislocating the electoral calendar but is also in flagrant breach of the provisions of Public Elections (Registration of Voters Regulations 2012).
Hon. Bonsu noted that the provisional register is being exhibited without much public education and information even though this is an entirely new and complicated exercise and adequate budgetary support has been provided.
The Minority Leader added that it is becoming obvious that with the exhibition of the provisional register during the first 16 days of September 2012, the EC will not be able to publish a certified register to replace the existing voters register as required under regulation 26 of CI 72 by October 2012.
He added that without the certified register by the beginning of October 2012, candidates for the elections may be compelled by the EC to file their nomination with the provisional register contrary to the regulation on elections which states that nomination paper for each candidate in an election to parliament shall be witness by the signature or mark of two registered voters and supported by 18 other registered voters all of whom shall be registered voter of the constituency.
The Leader again noted that the Minority in Parliament and the New Patriotic Party are not against the creation of additional constituencies per se, but find it distressing, reprehensible, the process in timing of the creation of the new constituencies.
He called on all Ghanaians and other stakeholders to join the minority in appealing to the conscience of the powers that they to save this nation from experimentation.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh