Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has proposed an increment of electoral areas in the Greater Accra region, from 236 to 349, for the December 28 District Level Election (DLE). In a Bill laid before Parliament for amendment to the District Assembly Elections (DAE) Act, 1994 (ACT 473), obtained by the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Thursday, the EC proposes the creation of additional 113 Electoral Areas in Greater Accra.

The DAE (Amendment) Act, 2010; specify that electoral areas in Ga West District has been increased from 18 to 25; Ga East from 10 to 19; Ga South from 14 to 35; Okaikwei, 12 to 19; Ablekuma, 18 to 24; Ashiedu Keteke, three to seven; and Osu Clottey, seven to nine. Other districts are: Ayawaso from 15 electoral areas to 17; Kpeshie, five to 10; Lezokuku-Krowor, eight to 24; Tema, 39 to 51; Ashaiman, 11 to 15; Adenta, four to 12; Dangme West, 36 to 40; and Dangme East, 36 to 42.

Speaking to the GNA, after a regional media briefing in Accra, Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, EC Deputy Chairman in-charge of Operations, explained that, the Commission is waiting for the passage of the Bill by Parliament by the end of November.

The Regional Media Briefing was organized by the EC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and facilitated by the KAB Governance Consult. It was under the theme, "Improving Citizen Participation in the 2010 District Level Elections, Through Enhanced Knowledge". He said the passage of the Bill would pave the way for re-demarcation, break-up and merger of some existing electoral areas to conform to current demographic and geographic changes, since the last demarcation in 1998.

Explaining the level of preparedness of the EC towards the December 28 Election, Mr Kantanka said the Commission has completed the limited voter registration process, whiles other in-house preparations towards the elections are in progress.

He said Parliament has already acted on part of the required legislation.

"The Commission is hopeful Parliament will approve the rest of the legislation to enable us to conduct the elections under the new arrangements".

Speaking on: "Preparation for DLE so far, changes in Legal framework ad planned Awareness Programme," Mr Kantanka mentioned other changes laid before Parliament, as increment of the number of electoral areas from about 5,000 to 6,000.

Also, the reduction of the number of unit committees from about 15,000 to 6,000 and the membership of unit committee from 225,000 to 30,000 elected persons.

He said the proposed changes would make the district level elections more manageable and efficient, adding that, printing of 15,000 different slates of candidates had now reduced to 6,000 slates. "The changes would also amount to significant reduction in the cost of the elections, and that with only five persons to be elected in each electoral area, the unit committee elections are likely to become more competitive," he said.

Flanked by the EC Greater Accra Regional Officials, Mr Kantanka said other significant changes in the new legislation include liberalization of the method of mounting campaign platforms. "Previously only the EC was mandated to mount a platform for the candidates, but under the proposed law, a candidate is allowed to mount his or her own platform, or an organization, other than a political party, can make resources available to the EC for purposes of mounting a platform for the common use of all the affected candidates," he stated. Mr Mohammed Adoquaye, Greater Accra Regional Director of the EC appealed to the media to support the Commission to inject dynamism into the District Level Election.

He said the Commission considers the media as important stakeholders in the quest to deepen grass root participation in local governance and broaden the democratic credentials of the country.