Parliament summons EC & Local Government Ministry to answer questions on suspended  District Assembly Elections 
             

The Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Local Government are to appear before parliament on Thursday to answer questions on the suspension of the district assembly elections by the Supreme Court. 

Mr Afari Gyan will also apprise the House on the EC’s next line of action to get the district level elections organized. He will appear before the House on Thursday, March 5, 2015.

First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton- Odro, issued the summons when Members expressed disquiet over the EC’s intransigence and the implication the cancellation of the election meant to Ghana.

The Court last week declared the ongoing processes of the district level election unconstitutional after an aggrieved aspirant dragged the  EC to court. 

Benjamin Eyi Mensah after completing and submitting his forms on December 22 last year was told that the filing of nominations closed on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 5pm.  

The aggrieved aspirant then went to court and obtained a favorable result by the Supreme Court ruling.  

The Court ordered the commission to start all over again CI 85; a legal instrument which seeks to demarcate electoral boundaries for the district elections in 2015. Many people have raised concerns and this has compelled parliament to summon the EC to answer questions on the matter.

Mr Barton-Odro also ordered the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Anyimadu, to secure a copy of the ruling of the Supreme Court for the perusal of members.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, MP for Sekondi said the EC Chairman ought to explain to the House why the Commission’s omission led to the cancellation of the elections and the way forward.

The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the EC’s failure to hold the elections had serious implications for the functioning of the district assemblies.

He said a similar situation arose four years ago leading to a delay in the district assembly elections, necessitating government to request district chief executives to “hold the fort", during which time funds were mismanaged.

 “That situation must not be allowed to recur”, he said.
     
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said he was privy to information that suggests the EC may not be able to bring another Constitutional Instrument before the House until March 16, this year.
     
He said if the law was adhered to, it meant that the CI would not mature until the mandatory 21 sitting days had elapsed, saying the situation could result in the recurrence of the malfeasance witnessed four years ago in the district assemblies.
     
Mr Isaac Osei, MP for Subin, said the Finance and Local Government and Rural Development Ministries needed to tell the House the measures they taken to protect the public purse in the interim.
      
The MP for Manhyia South, Dr Matthew Opoku - Prempeh, said the Ministry of Finance should state how it would ensure the smooth release of funds for the reorganization of the elections, as stated by the Supreme Court.

Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, MP for Wa West asked colleague legislators not to be judgmental and called for copies of the ruling by the Supreme Court to be made available to members for their perusal and comment.
      
The Deputy Majority Leader,  Mr Alfred Agbesi, said aspiring assembly members felt let down by the EC and that the Commission's conduct was unacceptable.
     
The MP for Adansi Asokwa,  Mr KT Hammond,  kicked against the appearance of the EC Chairman before the House, accusing  Dr Afari-Gyan of arrogance and disrespect because he (Afari Gyan) ignored advice from Parliament to ensure that the right thing was done.
      
Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, however, told the House that the Electoral Commission is preparing a Legislative Instrument that would be laid before the house in a fortnight.


GBC