NGO suggests IPAC should be made statutory body

Sociaserve-Ghana, a non-governmental organization, has suggested that the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) should be made a statutory body and its existence guaranteed by law.

“The legal status will cement the collaboration between the Electoral Commission (EC) and IPAC for a credible election,” Ms Rita Y. Ntoso, Socioserve-Ghana Programme Manager, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after the inauguration of Kweabibirem IPAC at Kade.

She said the situation where deliberations and suggestions made at IPAC were implemented at the discretion of the EC because the IPAC was not a statutory body had to end.

Addressing members of the Committee, Ms Ntoso said dialogue and cooperation between political parties was a sine qua non for the sustainability of peace before, during and after elections.

She appealed to political parties and other democratic stakeholders to periodically engage in social and recreational activities to bridge the political gap “as all political parties seek the welfare of the state and its people”.

Inaugurating the Committee, Ms Esther Sakyibea, Kwaebibirem NCCE District Director, reiterated the need to use Election 2012 to consolidate the nation’s democratic gains. “The December polls will be yet another test for the resilience of Ghana's democratic credentials".

She said it was important for all stakeholders to hold discourse at different fora to engage each other in pursuit of achieving a free, fair and violence free elections in December”.

The Kwaebibirem IPAC is chaired by Reverend Isaac Abukari of the Christian Council of Ghana.

The inauguration formed part of a project titled: “’Know Your Aspiring Member of Parliament,” currently being implemented in nine out of the 29 constituencies in the Eastern Region of which Kade is included.**