*54 MPS CALL FOR EMERGENCY RECALL OF PARLIAMENT OVER DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
ELECTION FIASCO*



54 Members of Parliament have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to recall
Members for an emergency deliberation to set up an urgent enquiry on the
District Assembly elections fiasco.



The petition, signed by 54 MPs from the Minority side of the House,
including Independent MPs, is in accordance with Article 112(3) and Order
38(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which allows 15% of Members to
request for a an urgent meeting of Parliament and for the Speaker to, within
a week, summon a meeting of Parliament for the consideration of the urgent
agenda.



The petition was issued on January 4, 2011 and Parliament is expected to
return to sit on January 18, one week after the Speaker summons a meeting
for the petition’s consideration.



The petition is calling for a “20-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the
issues surrounding the apparent difficulties of the Electoral Commission
(EC) in conducting originally announced 28th December, 2010 District
Assembly and Unit Committee Elections.”



Its stated terms of reference are as follows:

(a) Determine the adequacy of request(s) for funding as submitted by the EC
to the Government of Ghana (GoG).

(b) Determine the adequacy of funding provision and the timeliness of
releases by the GoG to the EC for the purposes of conducting the said
elections.

(c) Determine the reasons for the delay in the printing of ballot papers
for the said elections.

(d) Ascertain why the EC did not postpone the entire election to ensure
fairness and equity to all candidates and the electorate.

(e) Consider any other related matters.

(f) Submit recommendations to the House on the foregoing and proposals
for necessary action to forestall the recurrence of a similar situation in
any and all future elections in the country.



Those who signed up to the petition include Joe Ghartey (Essikado), Benito
Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya), Yaw Afful (Jaman South), Elizabeth Agyeman
(Oforikrom), Isaac Osei (Subin), Shirley Botchwey (Weija), Seth Adjei Baah
(Nkawkaw), Catherine Afeku (Evalue-Gwira), Alhaji Abdul Karim Iddrisu
(Nanton), Yaw Ntow-Ababio (Dormaa West), Joe Osei-Owusu (Bekwai), Gifty
Ohene-Konadu (Asante Akyem South), Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia), Akosua
Frema Osei-Opare (Ayawaso West Wuogon), Elizabeth Sackey (Okaikwei North),
Albert Kan Dapaah (Afigya Sekyere West), Daniel Botwe (Okere), Dominic
Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Isaac Asiamah (Atwima Mpowa), Maxwell Kofi Jumah
(Asokwa), Frederick Opare-Ansah (Suhum), Samuel Obodai (Agona West), Dr
Anthony Akoto Osei (Old Tafo) and and Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu (Ahafo Ano
South).



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NPP Communications Directorate
NPP Headquarters, Asylum Down. Accra.

Dep. Director: Curtis Perry K. Okudzeto
(024-9679008)