Delay in CI 73 would affect political parties not EC - Afari Gyan

The chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan says his outfit is not worried about the delay in passing the Constitutional Instrument 73 that gives legal backing to the creation of new constituencies.

The CI was withdrawn from Parliament last Wednesday and a new one relayed after concerns were raised about the series of errors contained in the document.

There have been arguments that the delay in passing the Bill will affect the activities of the Electoral commission ahead of the elections.

But Dr. Afari Gyan in an interview with Joy FM said the EC won’t be bothered if the passage takes place in September.

He however stated that it is the political parties that will be hugely affected and not the Electoral Commission.

“For us the most important thing is that the constituencies must be lawfully created this year before the next dissolution of Parliament. This means that the seats that have been created will be valied for the next Parliament.

“The problem that I envisage is that it will be a problem for the political parties if we have to use them for the 2012 elections, the earlier that they mature the better because then they will have time to put in their candidates for the constituencies.

“So the problem is really going to be on the Political parties and not the Electoral Commission” Mr. Afari Gyan said in an interview with Joy FM.