As the Electoral Commission (EC) prepares to exhibit the voters’ register, some Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed concern about the schedule in the House for the next few weeks.
The MPs argued that there is a need for them to travel back to their constituencies during the exhibition exercise to make sure that their names are in the register but are worried about how it might affect their work in Parliament.
[contextly_sidebar id=”kJ57cel2G24dJL4ksSUYKAlnh4xppSj8″]The EC announced that the voters’ register will be exhibited from July 18 to August 7 ; a change from the usual 10-day process.
“The date for the exhibition is slated for Monday 18 of July 2016, to 7th August. This year’s exhibition exercise is a bit different from the previous ones for some reason. In other words, this particular exhibition exercise is characterized by three main innovations. First of all, the Commission has decided to extend the 10 to 14 days that we normally use for the exhibition exercise to 21 days,” the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Samuel Tettey, said
He stated that, the exercise is relevant because it “offers voters’ an opportunity to know where their polling station is.”
The MPs have, therefore, requested that their programmes during the period be amended to allow them take part in the exhibition exercise and effectively conduct their duties in the House.
“As MPs I think we are expected to play some roles and the matter [exhibition] will be going on for three weeks. At the same time we are expected to be in the house to also do this other part of our job. I’m wondering if the leadership of the business community has taken this into consideration. Certainly it would not be wise for the MP to decide not to go at all but at the same time we also recognize the urgency we are face with in terms of passing bills,” MP for Old Tafo, Anthony Osei Akoto said on the floor of Parliament.
“I’m wondering if it’s been taken into consideration to allow us to partially perform these two functions both of which are equally important to the welfare of our people and of Ghana.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, urged the leaders of the majority and minority to meet and reach a consensus on the schedule for the period.
“The issue is perching on people’s constitutional obligations. So they [MPs] are asking that they go and check their names during the period. Fortunately for us also, it’s not a one-day event. I would suggest that leadership should meet and plan the movement of MPs so that we are able to hold the House together and also allow members to go to their constituencies to check their names and be able to come. I believe that through consultations and discussions, we should find a common ground in dealing with this matter,” he stated.
According to him, although the MPs had an obligation to be in Parliament, it was also imperative that they make sure their names are in the register.
“If your name is not in the register, you can’t file your nomination so we can’t say that members should not go and check their names. At the same time you have a duty for which you are being paid by the taxpayer in the chamber,” he said.
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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana