General News of Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Source: Stephen Darko

Ghana could go the Kenya way if …... NPP MP

Vociferous Member of Parliament (MP) for Menhyia Constituency has warned of Ghana heading for anarchy if corrective measures are not adopted by the Electoral Commission (EC), to resolve the brouhaha which has characterized the creation of new 45 constituencies.

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempey otherwise known as Napo, believes that the EC has grossly violated sections of the national Constitution in demarcating the new constituencies and insists politicians would be compelled to adopt their own means of ensuring the credibility of the December polls, should the EC defy calls to halt the creation of the constituencies.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP issued the stern warning when sharing his thoughts on the impasse on Peace Fm in Accra, during the station's 'Krokokoo' morning show programme on Tuesday.

“If the EC refuse to heed the advice from civil society groups, MPs and the public, I will not be surprise if we go in the Kenya way during the election. And we were all witnesses to what happened in Kenya after new constituencies were created shortly before their general elections.

The riot in that country displaced scores of people and several others also lost their lives as a result of the violence,” Napo reiterated.

The MP cited as clear case of gerrymandering the turn of events and opined that the NPP would continue to ensure the right procedures were followed before the constituencies are created.

Attempts by the EC to actualize 45 new constituencies to increase the seats of the National Assembly from 230 to 275 have been met by fierce resistance from the opposition NPP and some civil society groups who argue that the time for elections is too short for the EC to create the constituencies.

Barren any unforeseen circumstances, Ghana will go into presidential and parliamentary elections in December.