Nov Polls: Delayed guidelines recipe for disaster – MP

Failure by the Electoral Commission (EC) to quickly present before parliament a Constitutional Instrument (CI) to regulate the voting process on Election Day has the tendency of jeopardising the peace of the country, Vice Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament Kofi Osei-Ameyaw has said.

With less than five months to the elections, political parties and stakeholders have complained about what in their view is the EC’s feet-dragging attitude.

Some of the complaints include failure by the EC to present before Parliament an instrument to change the voting day from December 7 to November 7, as well as an instrument to govern the elections.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Class News’ parliamentary correspondent Ekow Annan, Mr. Osei- Ameyaw said the delay by the EC was a mark of inefficiency on its part.

“The earlier, the better,” he said, adding: “No question about that!” “If you delay, you are just not being effective and efficient; so, if we had had proper planning, it should have happened so that we all read the instrument and understand the rules of the game so that we can all apply ourselves to the rules. So, there is no misunderstanding or confusion that brings about violence”, he stated.

According to the Asuogyaman legislator, the delay could have repercussions if things are not done properly. “It can foment trouble. It can bring about a misunderstanding between the people who are competing, so, if you give people ample time for them to prepare while going into the contest, then they feel that, at least, you have given them a shot,” the MP added.