In Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) traditional areas, the residents have expressed their support for a new Constitutional Instrument designed to create the Guan Constituency.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has submitted a Constitutional Instrument to Parliament for the establishment of this constituency.
Residents from the SALL Traditional areas, who were unable to vote for a Parliamentary Candidate in the 2020 General Elections, have openly expressed their elation.
Fred Agbenyo, the Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in the forthcoming constituency, has warmly embraced the EC’s action, deeming it a positive step forward.
“We have been looking forward to this up till the news broke that the electoral commission has tabled a CI for the creation of the constituency. Per the processes, the CI is supposed to be laid for 21 days. Sometimes the process can be slow.
“When we heard the news we were excited about it but we know that our fundamental human rights have been infringed upon.”
Fred Agbenyo
He continued to recount the journey thus far.
“For no fault of ours, we were asked not to participate in the 2020 Elections and given a promise that they were going to create a constituency subsequently. Since then we have been following up with letters to the Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General, etc. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to our call.
“So when yesterday the news broke that the constituency was going to be created, some storm of excitement hit the area.”
Fred Agbenyo
He however noted that there is information suggesting that the Constitutional Instrument (CI) might be withdrawn from parliament for some unknown reason. He thus emphasized that any such attempts will be vehemently opposed.
“We are picking some other signal that some persons are trying to withdraw the CI that was laid. And I must tell you that it has taken a lot of effort for us to [come] this far…all these years. People had wanted us to resolve all manner of things unconstitutionally to make sure the right thing was done. We are in a democracy so we believe in the rule of law. We have to ensure that nobody’s right is infringed upon.
“Unfortunately for us as leadership, we have tried to maintain calm and allow the process to go through. So for any attempt at this point to withdraw the CI that has been laid in parliament, we cannot second-guess what will be the reaction of the people in that area.”
Fred Agbenyo
EC Debunks Claims Of Creating More Constituencies
However, it is anticipated that a bill proposing the establishment of additional constituencies for the 2024 General Elections will be presented to the House for deliberation following extensive consultations with stakeholders.
Previously, the Electoral Commission had announced its ongoing efforts to form new constituencies. Bossman Asare, the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs of the Electoral Commission, had specifically mentioned the Guan District as one of the areas slated to receive a new constituency as part of the Commission’s preparations for the 2024 elections.
Nonetheless, the Electoral Commission has refuted claims suggesting its plans to create more constituencies ahead of the impending general elections. Dismissing media reports about 25 proposed constituencies, the Commission, in a statement signed by Michael Boadu, the Head of Public Relations, emphasized that the only constituency being established is the Guan Constituency in the Oti Region for the 2024 General Elections, refuting any other purported plans for new constituencies.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presented the Constitutional Instrument titled “Representation of the People – Parliamentary Constituencies Amendment Instrument, 2023” to the house.
The Speaker has subsequently referred the CI to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of parliament for review and reports.
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