EC to create more constituencies

The delegation discussing issues with Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka (right), a Deputy Commissioner of the EC.
Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday April 13, 2011.
The Electoral Commission (EC) anticipates the creation of more constituencies and thereby more members of parliament, given the results of the 2010 Population and Housing Census figures.

“We have not taken the decision to increase the constituencies as yet but we are all aware that the population has increased. We are waiting for the official census figures and as soon as we get it, the EC will determine how new constituencies would be created,” Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, a Deputy Commissioner of the EC said.

He was responding to question raised by a delegation from Mozambique who were at the EC headquarters in Accra on Monday to study how Ghana’s electoral body functions.

The visit of the 10 member Mozambican delegation made up of senior politicians was facilitated by the Netherland Institute for Multiparty Democracy under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a policy think tank.

Mr. Kantanka said the commission is planning to also create more polling stations to make the electoral process accessible to the electorate.

“We have plans to increase the current number of the polling stations to about 23,000 so that the electorate could feel our presence everywhere in the country.”

He reiterated the independence of the EC to the delegation saying “when it comes to the creation of constituencies and polling stations not authority tells us what to do. We do it base on the population figures available.”

“The last time we made such a move we increased the number of constituencies from 200 to 230. The power to create more constituencies has been given to us so we decide what is best for the country.”

Mr. Kantanka admitted that it has not been easy in the organization of elections in the country but said the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) had played a collaborative role the electoral exercise.

He said it is always prudent to organize both presidential and parliamentary simultaneously since a delay in one would ultimately affect the results of another.

The Deputy Commissioner also said turnouts in the various elections since 1992 have been encouraging and added that the EC is ready roll out the biometric voters registration exercise.

José Manuel de Sousa, leader of the delegation commended the EC for its achievements and said they would learn a lot from Ghana.

“We are in the process of reviewing our constitution as Ghana is also doing and we know that we can exchange ideas for the benefits of both countries.”