Give IPAC powers: Korsah to Electoral Commission

The Director of Elections of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, has appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to reconsider the role of political parties at Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings.

Some political parties in the past have raised concerns over the significance of IPAC since its decisions are not binding on the EC.

Mr Korsah, speaking to Moro Awudu on Inside Politics on Class91.3FM Thursday September 1, suggested that IPAC should play a bigger role in the affairs of the EC than just being an advisory body.

He said: “What for me I will look at is not necessarily expanding the forum but making it more relevant. I am thinking that in some time to come let’s redefine the place of IPAC. It still remains advisory.”

Citing one instance where the EC overruled the decisions of parties at IPAC to buttress his point, Mr Korsah said in 2012, all the political parties had agreed on ‘No Verification, No Vote’ but the EC unilaterally decided to review the plan, a decision the commission carried out given the backing from the constitution.

“So, for me, sometimes we (political parties) believe our positions, suggestions, and opinions are good and must impact, but if the commission decides otherwise [we cannot do anything about it],” he noted.

Mr Korsah debunked claims that there would be a clash of powers if IPAC is given more authority.

In his view, “If you go to parliament, there are different shades of opinion but at the end of the day, positions prevail in spite of the partisan nature of those debates and they are legitimate.”