2020 polls: Minority MPs fume over EC Boss’ failure to honour Parliament’s invitation
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) are unhappy with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) after she failed to honour an invitation extended her by the leadership of the house.
Jean Mensah was billed to brief the MPs on the EC’s preparedness for the upcoming December elections.
She, however, failed to show up, forcing the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye to suspend sitting.
Upon resumption of sitting, Minority Chief whip, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak questioned the attitude of the EC chairperson towards parliament.
According to the Asawase MP, it was not the first time the EC boss has stood up the house after invitations had been extended to her.
Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Wednesday told Members of Parliament on the floor of the house that the EC boss had been arranged to brief the House about their preparedness towards the elections.
He, however, stated that the invitation reached EC boss late at a time she was out of Accra.
He discredited claims that Mrs Mensa had deliberately decided not to turn up for the meeting.
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in a reaction said the EC’s briefing was crucial as the Commission had moved from a stage of registration, voter exhibition, and was in the process of printing ballot papers.
“The Electoral Commissioner lost a golden opportunity to apprise parliament of the measures and steps she has taken so far to guarantee the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“I was only informed after 11:30 am that she was not likely to come. Even if she is not there, she is running a state institution, there are two deputies. There are other commissioners.
“She owes the people of Ghana accountability,” he told Joy FM.
Listing what the House needed to know from the EC boss ahead of the December 7 polls, he said: “We want to know the status of the voter register, when do we have a certified true copy? ”
With the Inspector General of Police honouring the House’s invitation, the Minority Leader said the briefing from the police showed that the number of polling stations would shoot up from 33,000 to 40,000.
“Must we hear this from the security chief? No, this is part of the mandate of the Electoral Commission. Creating new polling stations has implication for MPs and political parties. What consultation went into it? ” he asked.