Constitutional Instrument on elections laid in Parliament

Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - A constitutional Instrument called "Public Elections (Presidential and Parliamentary Election Date) Instrument, 2004 CI 48 was laid before Parliament on Thursday. The Bill, which was laid by the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, would give legal backing to the date for Election 2004.

Mr Ken Dzirassah, Second Deputy Speaker, who chaired, did not refer it to any specific committee but said that "a lot of consultations are going on and that may affect the destiny of the Bill".

The election date has been a source of wrangling in the House since it came back from recess on Tuesday.

Mr Doe Adjaho, the Minority Chief Whip, had issued a statement on Wednesday urging the House to summon the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General to explain why no instrument for legalising the date for the Elections had come to Parliament.

Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, who was in the chair, ruled that Parliament could not bear the responsibilities of the Electoral Commission and that it could not direct it to perform that duty but could only draw its attention to the issue.