Electoral Commission refutes accusation

Accra, Jan. 12, GNA- Mr. David Kangah, Deputy Commissioner, Electoral Commission (EC) in-charge of operations on Wednesday refuted accusations by the Minority Group in parliament that the EC sidelined Parliament in 1999.

Mr. Kangah was speaking with the GNA in Accra to state the EC's position on the accusations contained in the annual report of the group in parliament. The Deputy Commissioner said as an organisation funded by government, the EC seeks parliamentary approval and attends budget hearing for its fiscal budgets every year including 1999 like all other commissions.

He said assistance from Donor Communities to the EC is done through the Government and the UNDP who co-ordinates the activities of the donors. Mr. Kangah said Political Party reforms were initiated by the EC when it observed the difficulties involved in working with the Political Parties Law.

The EC organised national forums in three regions two workshops for parliamentarians at Akosombo and Ada to seek their views on the political parties Law. He said deliberations from these workshops were discussed at Intra-party meetings. The deputy commissioner said the EC also organised another workshop for Senior Judges and the Chief Justice at Elimina. GNA