MPs not happy about slashing of EC budget

Accra, Dec 14, GNA - Members of Parliament (MPs), on Monday expressed their views on the reduction of budget estimates of the Electoral Commission (EC) from GHC67 Million Ghana Cedis to GHC 10 Million Cedis for the 2010 District Level Elections, by the Executive.

Some MPs including those from the Minority considered the action as a disincentive to the promotion of democracy and good governance in the country while other including those from the Majority argued that it was an expedient decision, under the financial circumstances that the government=

was operating. The MPs were debating the motion on the approval of the budget estimates of the EC, presented in the 2010 financial statement, a month a= go. Mr.Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, said the amount approved for the 2= 010 fiscal year was woefully inadequate since the EC would in 2010 conduct District and Unit Committee Elections apart from by-elections. He said: "The Commission would among other things also complete the renovation of the Greater Accra Regional Office, construct an incinerator=

for each region to enable them dispose off all the documents that were no=

longer needed and to renovate all district stores".

Mr Bagbin said although the amount was inadequate for the task ahead= , he was hopeful that alternative sources of funding would be sought to enhance the performance of the EC.

Professor George Gyan Baffour, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Wenc= hi, expressed dissatisfaction about the way the EC budget estimates was handl= ed since the government was aware that there would be District and Unit Committee elections next year.

He said Ghana had over the years carved a niche for itself in the conduct of general elections and the promotion of democracy and good governance and it was unfair for the government to slash the budget of th= e EC. Prof Gyan-Baffour suggested to government to reduce the number of people representing Unit Committees in order to reduce cost in the face o= f the tight approved budget for the District Assemblies and unit Committee Elections in 2010. He said EC should be provided with adequate funds to enable it to update the voters' register, create awareness on the forthcoming election= s in order to maintain the confidence that other countries had reposed in Ghana.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications, gave the assurance that government was in touch with the South Korean government to support the District and Unit Level Elections and also provide facilities for the smo= oth running of elections in the country.

He said the agreement, if reached, would allow the development partn= ers to deal directly with the EC to enable them sort out rough edges. Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, NPP MP for Dormaa West, appealed to government to source funds for the EC to enable it to operate properly. The House also approved 1,000,495,167 Ghana Cedis for the Services o= f the Public Services Commission for the 2010 fiscal year.