Voters' Register to be opened last quarter of 2007

Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - As part of its obligations, and in preparations towards the Election 2008, the Electoral Commission (EC) would re-open the Voters' Register during the last quarter of 2007. The EC has also said that considering the amount of work it has to do to prepare the grounds for a free and fair election, funds allocated for its work in the 2007 fiscal year was woefully inadequate. This is contained in the report of the Special Budget Committee on the 2007 budget estimates of the EC presented to Parliament on Monday. This was after Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs had moved a motion for the approval of 41.7 billion cedis for the services of the EC.

"In addition to the general election, the EC would also conduct a by-election early next year in the Fomena Adansi Constituency and it is important to be prepared for it," the report said.

The report said the EC informed the Special Budget Committee that its 2007 personnel emoluments budget allocation was less than requested and the "Commissioner expressed apprehension about the consequences of the situation considering the amount of work to be undertaken before December 2008.

"For personnel emoluments the EC requested 30.67 billion cedis but has been allocated only 22.08 billion cedis," it said. Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, the Deputy Minority Leader, speaking to the motion, said there were implications for electoral dispute in the country and the consequences were obvious. He said it was, therefore, important for the country to come out with a credible electoral system by giving adequate resources to the EC. The House also approved 5.0 billion cedis for the services of the Public Services Commission and 38.8 billion cedis for the National Commission on Civic Education.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs also received 10.2 billion cedis for the 2007 fiscal year.

The Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, in its report to the House, said the Ministry had a critical role to play in facilitating the participation of all segments of society in complementing the role of key governance institutions in policy formulation to further democracy.