Parliament warns EC on submission of C.I.


Parliament has sounded a strong word of caution to the Electoral Commission on the submission of Constitutional Instruments, C.I. 

The first Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Oduro sent out the caution as the house approved that the District Electoral Areas and Designation of unit Instrument, 2014, C. I. 85 should come into force. 

He said the EC should not stall the work of Parliament. Adding that although all stakeholders are bent on ensuring that the right processes are followed, the EC should not take advantage of this commitment and stampede the work of Parliament. 

Radio Ghana's Parliamentary Correspondents Dominic Hlordzi and Augustus came through with the following report that Article 45 of the Constitution provides that the Electoral Commission shall demarcate the electoral boundaries for both national and local government elections. 

Article 51 also makes provision for the EC to perform through constitutional instruments, functions such as registering voters and conducting elections. 

The chairman of the subsidiary Legislation committee, Osei Bonsu Amoah said the new instrument; C.I. 85 does not contravene the provisions of the constitution and the standing Orders of Parliament. 

He therefore implored the house to approve it and let it come into force from Tuesday December 23, 2015, having met the constitutional requirement for the implementation of such instruments. 

Before the First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Oduro gave the EC the caution not present such instruments late, the MPs had few words of their own. 

The Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the House must not countenance the actions of the EC in future. He said as the CI had then not matured, it was inappropriate for the commission to open nominations for contestants of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The MP for Wa West, Joseph Yieleh Chireh said it is about time people are held responsible for their lapses.

Six thousand, one hundred and 56 electoral areas across the country are covered under the new C.I. the Ashanti region has the most with one thousand and 58 electoral areas with Upper West having the least with two hundred and 93 areas.  


GBC