Postpone elections in 45 new constituencies - CDD presses EC

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) insists despite the passage of the CI 78, which gives legal backing to the creation of 45 additional constituencies, it will advise the Electoral Commission to suspend elections in these constituencies.

The Centre says it foresees chaos if elections are held in these areas. CDD is one of the institutions that agitated against the creation of the constituencies on the basis that the timing is wrong.

After parliament, by majority a vote, rejected the proposal to annul the CI 78 on Monday, Programmes Officer with the CDD, Paul Aborampah Mensah told XYZ News, postponing elections will do Ghana a lot of good.

“Should the EC go ahead? Should they go ahead to implement this very 2012 elections [or] should they postpone it? It is up to them but we will advise that yes, they have the power, they have the order. If it will be possible they should postpone it and implement it at an appropriate time,” Mr. Aborampah Mensah advised.

He however stated that as the matter stands now, everyone has an obligation to comply with the CI 78 when it is passed into law today.

According to Mr Aborambah Mensah, “we are under a democratic dispensation and every institution is mandated by the constitution for specific actions to be done.”

He said whether the political parties are capable of participating in the election or not, the CI will become enforceable and must therefore be adhered to unless the EC chooses to do otherwise.

“The legalities have been passed and the majority has accepted it then we advise that we all work to make it happen so that our vision of entrenching democracy in the country becomes workable,” he added.