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General News of Monday, 27 August 2012

Source: radioxyzonline

Kufuor must be called to order for "threatening" - Afriyie Ankrah

The deputy Local Government Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says former President Kufuor must be called to order for openly threatening the Electoral Commission.
According to him, President Kufuor’s description of the creation of 45 new constituencies as “not sensible” is a “threat” to the Electoral Commission and the State.
Ex President Kufuor and the main opposition NPP are strongly against the creation of the new constituencies.
At the party’s rally in Accra on Saturday, the former President cautioned the EC against plunging the country into chaos with the creation of the new constituencies barely three months to general elections.
But Mr. Afriyie Ankrah in an interview with XYZ News said former President Kufuor’s comment against the creation of the constituencies amounts to a threat.
He added that the law under which the Electoral Commission is operating to create the 45 new constituencies is the same that the erstwhile NPP administration used to create some constituencies in 2004.
"The electoral Commission is operating by law, it is enjoined by the constitution, is this not the same regulation that made President Kufuor create 30 new constituencies and nobody complained".
Mr. Afriyie Ankrah added that “I think that President Kufuor’s veiled threat and I call them threats because threatening the Electoral Commission and threatening the country is very unfortunate and he must be called to order”.
But opposition Member of Parliament for Okere, Dan Botwe in a reaction said he suspects the ruling party is manipulating the EC.
“It is a clear case of gerrymandering being perpetuated by the NDC government on Ghanaians which should not be allowed. I am also saying that beyond that issue of gerrymandering the time is bad” Dan Botwe said.