The Electoral Commission (EC) has conveyed its preparedness in meeting with Parliament to brief them on the roadmap to the upcoming election on Saturday, November 7.
Contained in a statement, the Commission debunked claims of deliberately ignoring summon from the House on its plans for the elections.
This follows the inability of the Chairperson for the Commission, Jean Mensa to appear before the House on Thursday, November 5.
The Commission noted that, it received the invitation to be in Parliament late on Wednesday and as such it is alarmed by claims that it deliberately refused to honour the invitation by the law-making body.
“The Commission is greatly surprised by this turn of events as notice of the said meeting reached it late Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at a time when some Commission members were outside Accra. This was communicated to the Leadership of Parliament.”
Explaining their stance on the matter, the Commission said, “the Chairperson of the Commission has never turned down an invitation of the August House. The Commission and its Leadership view Parliament as an important democratic institution and have always fully cooperated with Honourable members.”
As such, they are “fully prepared to present its comprehensive report to the leadership and Honourable Members. In agreement with the leadership of Parliament, the Commission will present its roadmap to the Honourable Members on Saturday, November 7, 2020.”
Parliament, on November 5, 2020, extended an invitation to the Electoral Commission to update the House on the Commission’s preparedness ahead of the 2020 polls.
Expected to be present to brief the House also was the National Security Minister and other heads of agencies in charge of security during the election.
Expounding on the matter, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said officials from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the National Media Commission (NMC) will also be present.
“Mr. Speaker, the EC is in the process of readjusting their own program for Thursday so possibly we shall see all the major stakeholders come to the house to brief us”.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu whose demand led to the invitation made some more request to the House.
Additionally, he requested the Ghana Police Service would also be required to give MPs a list of security personnel being deployed to various constituencies.
“We want the Interior Minister to support the National Security Minister and this time the IGP must be in attendance because we ought to understand the security detail on Election Day very well”.
Mr. Iddrisu further noted that the NDC MPs were looking forward to questioning the EC boss on all procurement it has made for the upcoming election as well.