The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, and the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority, Kenneth Attafuah, are expected to appear before Parliament on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, to brief the House on the commission’s proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI).
Due to Madam Mensa’s absence from the House, the Minority in Parliament objected to the briefing by the EC officials last Thursday. The EC’s Constitutional Instrument, is attempting to use the Ghana Card as the primary document for all voters’ registration in the upcoming general elections.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, announced that the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, will appear before the legislators on Tuesday.
“The EC officials had established contact with the Chairperson, who had agreed to come down for us to have the committee of the whole meeting, but she delayed because the Minority Members of Parliament were picking up their parliamentary forms. So, on Tuesday, she will appear, and we will continue with the committee of the whole meeting.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Parliament reconvenes tomorrow as it was adjourned last week Thursday. Parliament has denied reports that a Constitutional Instrument (CI), seeking to make the Ghana Card, the sole registration document for elections has been passed.
A statement by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament explained that the House only held pre-presentation discussions on the CI, to collect input from relevant sources for the drafting of the Constitutional Instrument (CI).
“The attention of Parliament of Ghana has been drawn to a report in the Ghanaian Times alleging that Parliament has passed a Constitutional Instrument (CI), to adopt the Ghana Card as the sole registration document. Parliament states categorically, that it has not passed any such instrument. In any case, Parliament does not pass Constitutional Instruments.”
Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament
Jean Mensa Did Not Disrespect Parliament; Invitation Was Sent Late
The Electoral Commission (EC), has refuted reports that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, disrespected Parliament by not honoring an invitation from the House.
The EC disclosed in a statement, that the letter inviting the Chairperson to brief Parliament on the draft CI, on the registration of voters, was received a day prior to the scheduled briefing, when Jean Mensa was already out of the jurisdiction.
That notwithstanding, Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chair for Corporate Services, attended the meeting together with other Directors of the Commission. Surprisingly, the meeting was cancelled as the Minority side of Parliament insisted on the presence of the EC Chairperson at the meeting.
“The Commission especially its chairperson, understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC. The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.
“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting, at a time when the Chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel, she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honorable House.”
Electoral Commission (EC)
The EC added that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, is yet to return to Ghana, contrary to reports that she had returned from her trip to Nigeria.
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