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Minority Leader cries foul over 45 new constituencies
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- Parent Category: Our Country
- Category: Politics
- Created on Wednesday, 13 June 2012 00:00
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Minority Leader cries foul over 45 new constituencies
The Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu is questioning the creation of new constituencies which was necessitated by the creation of new districts in the country.The Electoral Commission is planning to add 45 more constituencies to the existing 230 following the creating of new district by the government.
Article 47(5) of the 1992 Constitution mandates the EC to “review the division of Ghana into constituencies at intervals of not less than seven years, or within 12 months after the publication of the enumeration figures after holding of a census of the population of Ghana, whichever is earlier, as may, as a result, alter constituencies”.
Whilst conceding that the action by the EC is grounded in law, Mensah-Bonsu was quick to add the phenomenon lends itself to abuse by political heads.
“I agree that is also a constitutional requirement, but just doing that will not meet what the constitution provides. Otherwise, you can have any president who would, out of whatever reason other than equity, create districts to suit his own purpose and then force the hand of the EC to create constituencies to favour a particular political party. It appears that is what we are witnessing,” he was speaking Joy News’ Jefferson Sackey.
The EC, in 2004, increased the number of constituencies from 200 to the current 230.
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the EC must determine what the population quota is, “so we know how many constituencies ought to be created in which areas.”
“…A district created needs a constituency but it cannot be allowed for a situation a constituency with 20,000 people is represented by one person with another constituency with 200,000 people is represented by one Member of Parliament. That situation does not obtain anywhere in the world,” he argued.
From: Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com
