The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has refuted claims that it disenfranchised the people of Sankrokofi, Apkafu, Lolobi and Lipke (SALL) from voting in the 2020 parliamentary elections.
The response is in reference to an audio of Imani president, Franklin Cudjoe accusing the EC of disenfranchising the people of SALL
A statement issued by the EC on Wednesday (15 May), said it is unfortunate Imani continues to peddle falsehood about the Electoral Commission stating that, “how can a well-meaning person accuse the Commission of disenfranchising the good of people of SALL when the facts are so clear.
The EC said in the statement that “it is unfortunate for IMANI continues to peddle falsehood and untruth about the Commission at every point and turn.
The statement, signed by the AG. Head, Public Affairs of the Commission, Michael Boadu, bulleted 7 points (facts) to debunk the claims from IMANI.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in Ghana, and has urged the public to disregard the “false and misleading” claims about the SALL issue.
Below is the full statement issued by the Electoral Commission.
“The Electoral Commission has received an audio circulating on social media in which the President of Imani accuses the Commission of disenfranchising the people of Santrokofi, Apkafu, Lolobi and Lipke (SALL). We wish to state categorically that his accusations are false and without basis. The Commission never disenfranchised the good people of the newly created Guan Constituency. It is not in our interest to do so.” The EC state said.
“Here are the facts surrounding the inability of the residents of SALL now Guan Constituency, to vote in the 2020 Parliamentary Election”
“The Legislative Instrument (L. I. 2416) which created the Guan District (SALL) was laid in Parliament on the 6th of October, 2020 by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). It matured on the 9th of November, 2020 roughly a month to the 2020 General Elections”
“Parliament went to recess on the 9th of November, 2020, the same day the L.I. creating the Guan District matured and returned on the 14th of December, 2020, one week after the 2020 General Elections.”
“On the 10th of November 2020, the ElectoralCommission received a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development informing it of the creation of the Guan District (SALL). The letter requested the Commission to take steps to create a new Constituency.”
“The Commission drafted a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) to bring into force the Guan Constituency and forwarded the drafted C.I to the Attorney General’s Department for its review on the 13yh of November, 2020 as required by law.”
“It is important to state that for a C.I to mature and come into force, the law requires the Electoral Commission to lay the C.I in Parliament for twenty-one (21) sitting days. This means that Parliament should be in session during the twenty-0ne (21) day period when the CI is laid.”
“With Parliament on recess, the Commission could not lay the C.I to bring the Guan Constituecy ito effecr as required by law”
“The question is, how could the Commission proceed to create a new Constituency when Parliament was in recess and when the law required the Commission to lay the CI.I before Parliament for twenty-one (21) days?”
“How can any well-meaning person accuse the Commission of Disenfranchising the good people of SALL when the facts are so clear?”
“It is unfortunate that IMANI continues to peddle falsehood and untruths about the Commission at every point and turn. His narrative that the Commission disenfranchised the people of SALL, now the Guan Constituency, is FALSE. We urge the public to verify information put out by IMANI, with the Commission for the truth and the facts”
“To enable the public ascertain the truth, we have attached the letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Commission requesting it to create the new Constituency and the Commission’s letter to the Attorney General seeking to create the new Constituency”
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
