Over new constituencies
A pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), have served notice that it would soon hit the streets to register its displeasure about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) intention to create new 45 constituencies.
The Chairman of AFAG, Nana Afriyie, speaking on Asempa Fm in Accra on Tuesday, disclosed that all attempts by his group to dialogue with the EC over the matter have yielded fruitless results.
He said until the Dr. Afari Gyan led-commission refrain from the creation of the new constituencies, which he insists could plunge the country into disarray, the group would adopt what he termed as “red revolution” to drum home their demands.
“We have sent several letters to the EC to enable us sit and dialogue and find an amicable solution to the matter but it appears the EC is adamant and is bent on creating the constituencies despite the resistance from the public. So we are giving them just two weeks ultimatum,” he charged.
Nana Afriyie, however, quoted 1st Corinthians 10 to buttress the group’s stance, and cautioned that the action of the EC could derail the stability of the nation.
“Let me tell you (referring to the host), our action is based on the foundations of the bible and takes inspiration from the national constitution. From the way things are going, we in AFAG believe that it is only massive protestation that can curtail the action of the EC,” he added.
The decision of the EC to create additional 45 seats to increase the number of parliamentarians from 230 to 275 has been met with fierce resistance particularly from members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
But the EC says it will go ahead with the creation of the new constituencies in spite of the opposition and criticisms.
“The EC is fully prepared and will go ahead to conduct elections in the 45 newly created constituencies in the country,” Christian Owusu Parry, the Commission’s acting Head of Public Affairs, is quoted as saying.
Source: GhanaWeb
