EC Defends Creation Of 30 New Constituencies

The Electoral Commission’s announcement that 30 new constituencies will be created for the 2004 parliamentary elections has generated a huge debate with the commission and minority parties differing on the timing of the announcement.

Whiles no party has questioned the principle of creating new constituencies, the National Democratic Congress, the Convention People's Party and the People's National Convention have condemned the timing of the announcement and the implementation date.

The parties say it will be unconstitutional to use the review for 2004 elections. They contend that the exercise must take effect in 2008 and not 2004.

Some of the parties have also raised issues with logistical aspect of the exercise saying the decision would bring excessive pressure to bear on their already overstretched resources.

NDC general secretary Josiah Aryea claimed it was unfair for the EC to create the new constituencies so close to an election.

PNC presidential candidate Edward Mahama said the creation of the new constituencies was ignoring the basic issues at stake.

"Early last month the speaker was complaining about the inadequacy of support to MPs, how salaries are inadequate and then we talk about creating new constituencies. The MPs will demand more bungalows, more cars and what ever. Our problem now is not lack of adequate representation but a lack of facilities to carry out their duties adequately."

The NPP and GCPP headed by Dan Lartey however backed the move saying there was nothing wrong with it.

Their position is naturally backed by the EC whose director of public affairs Henry Okine told JoyNews that the argument by the parties opposed to the plan was untenable.

"To say that the time for the implementation is too short is untenable. The next election is in 2004 so I don't really see the point. We had made the parties well aware in advance about the plan so no one can call this a bad treat.

The EC also got support from journalist and elections expert Ben Ephson. ''I am surprised because as far back as February this year, he EC had raised the issue about the possibility of creating of new constituencies so most of them were aware.

"As for the concerns about how expensive the exercise would be, I think it shouldn't be overstretched even though it is a valid point. If we overstretch that argument, then we won't have next year's general elections which would cost 25 million dollars which can be used for a lot of other things", he said.