The Electoral Commission (EC) has initiated the necessary procedures to establish one or more additional parliamentary constituencies to supplement the existing 275 constituencies.
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presented a document to Parliament outlining the proposed creation of the new constituency or constituencies. This development comes as Parliament reconvened after a recess of nearly three months to commence the Third Meeting in the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The order paper addendum for the first sitting of the Third Meeting featured the title "Representation of the People (parliamentary constituencies) (amendment) instrument 2023." However, apart from the title, no further details were provided, as per parliamentary procedure.
It is worth noting that the need for this constitutional instrument arose following the establishment of the Oti Region and the Guan District. Consequently, it became imperative to ensure that the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe have adequate representation in Parliament. While it remains uncertain whether the new constitutional instrument primarily focuses on the creation of the Guan Constituency or if additional constituencies are being considered, this development underscores the EC's commitment to ensuring fair and equitable representation.
According to Article 47 of the constitution, the EC is empowered to review constituencies within the country. Clause two of this article stipulates that no constituency should fall within more than one region. Furthermore, clause three emphasizes that constituency boundaries should be designed in a manner that ensures population equality as closely as possible.
Clause five of Article 47 specifies that the EC must review Ghana's constituency divisions at intervals of no less than seven years or within twelve months after the publication of enumeration figures following a population census, whichever comes earlier. As a result of such reviews, alterations to constituencies may be made. Additionally, clause six states that any alterations to constituency boundaries shall take effect upon the next dissolution of Parliament.
For the purpose of this article, "population quota" is defined in clause seven as the number derived from dividing Ghana's total population by the number of constituencies established under Article 47.
Historically, the number of constituencies has undergone changes. Following the general elections in December 2000, during President John Agyekum Kufuor's administration, the EC increased the number of constituencies from 200 to 230. Similarly, in preparation for the 2012 general elections under President John Dramani Mahama's government, 45 new constituencies were created, bringing the total to its current count of 275.
Discussions surrounding the new constitutional instrument have emerged among parliamentarians from both sides of the political spectrum. While some Minority MPs express concerns regarding potential disadvantages in terms of winning additional seats, the majority appears more at ease with the proposed changes.
Unofficial reports suggest that the number of seats may increase from 275 to 300. However, opinions among legislators remain divided on this matter even before it is officially deliberated on in Parliament.
Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu had previously alluded to the EC's intention to create new constituencies following the 2021 housing and population census. Similarly, Minority Chief Whip Ahmed Ibrahim made similar remarks but accused the government of exerting pressure on the EC to establish these 25 new constituencies.
In a September 2023 interview with TV3 prior to the limited registration exercise, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Commissioner of the EC responsible for Corporate Services, also mentioned the creation of new constituencies without specifying an exact figure. Dr. Bossman highlighted that the Guan District is among the areas earmarked for a new constituency.
"We are currently in the process of creating several new constituencies, and Guan District is one of them. If it were not for Parliament's recess, we would have already commenced this process," stated Dr. Bossman.
(This article is sourced from thechronicleonline and edited by | Mydailyreports24)
0 Comments