[ 2012-09-14 ]

Dr. Afari Gyan

Critics of 45 new constituencies are "rabble rousers" - Dr. Afari Gyan
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr.
Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, insists there is nothing wrong
with the decision to create 45 new constituencies
despite the fact that the elections are barely
three months away.

The EC Chairman described those who have mounted
harsh criticisms at the Commission’s decision as
"rabble rousers".

Speaking on Ghana Television’s (GTV) Election
Platform, Thursday night, Dr. Afari-Gyan
questioned the rationality of the EC setting aside
its constitutional mandate just to please some
political parties and other organizations.

The EC Chairman maintained that political parties
who are complaining of limited time are only being
mischievous as they have ample time to go about
their business as far as the December 7 polls are
concerned.

Dr. Afari-Gyan also rejected suggestions that the
constituencies should only come into effect after
2012 elections. The EC is said to have up to 12
months after the publication of a census results
to review the number of constituencies.

But Dr. Afari-Gyan said every citizen has to be
represented in parliament hence the Commission’s
decision to include the new constituencies in the
upcoming elections. He said those who are asking
for the postponement should go and justify it to
residents of the newly constituencies.

The EC's decision to create the 45 constituencies
has been met with stiff opposition from various
quarters including religious, civil societies, and
political parties who argue that, the action of
the EC has the tendency of creating chaos in the
upcoming election.

Several key personalities have also added their
voices to the call on the EC not to embark on the
creation of the constituencies with former
President Kufuour describing the EC’s decision as
“unwise”.

The Constitutional Instrument which is to create
the constituencies has also not gone without
controversies having been withdrawn from the floor
of parliament twice, due to some inconsistencies
in the document.

The CI is now expected to mature after 21-sitting
days of parliament having been laid last week when
MP’s were summoned from their recess for an
emergency sitting.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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