Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it has plans to create new constituencies ahead of the 2020 general elections.
It has, however, denied reports that a decision has been taken for 25 additional constituencies, describing the reports as lies and inaccurate.
The National Democratic Congress(NDC) Minority in Parliament has cautioned the Electoral Commission against the creation of new constituencies.
According to the NDC MPs, they have credible information which suggests the EC intends increasing the number of Parliamentarians to 300 with 17 constituencies to be created in the Ashanti Region alone.
The First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim in an interview with the media said such a move will disadvantage the NDC party.
“NDC should not think that Nana Akufo Addo is thinking about free and fair elections, all he’s thinking about is rigging it is as clear as that. Parliament, look at the chamber even 275 MPs there’s no space and you are thinking of creating an additional 25 seats that is the assignment they’ve given to the EC. Very soon there’ll be a declaration by the EC, the EC will come that it is going to create an additional 25 seats that is the NPP agenda. Very soon it will be out, they are going to create Bimbilla into Bimbilla South and Bimbilla North I can mention those areas to you.”
However, reacting to the report in an interview with Starr News’ Ibrahim Alhassan, the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa dismissed it as a total fabrication.
“We have seen reports in the public domain and we can say for a fact that this is not coming from the commission, the commission has not met to consider this, although this is an issue on its [EC] agenda and its a mandate of the commission, but those figures and information put out there is not true and we ask the public to disregard it.
“It’s an issue on the agenda and a mandate of the commission so it is always on the front burner but to be honest this has not even been discussed and it has nothing to do with the creation of new regions…at the moment we are busy setting up offices and that is what is before us…and so although the creation of new constituencies is a mandate of the commission, it is not something that is occupying us at the moment,” Mrs. Mensa said Monday.
She added that the EC is evaluating whether there is the need for creating additional constituencies, adding that the public will be duly informed at the end of the exercise.
