As the debate continues on the conditions of service and ex-gratia payments and the like for our 230 Members of Parliament (MPs), we need to bear in mind that democracy is not cheap. Secondly, we need to be reminded that whether Ghana has money or not, the number of MPs in Ghana’s Parliament would definitely be increased from the current number of 230.

The new number of MPs is likely to be between 250 and 260.

Ghanaians do not have a choice in this matter – it is a constitutional requirement.

Art. 47(5) states: The Electoral Commission shall review the division of Ghana into constituencies at intervals of not less than seven years, or within twelve months after the publication of the enumeration figures after the holding of a census of the population of Ghana, whichever is earlier, and may, as a result, alter the constituencies.

Readers will remember that after the 2010 Population Census, the number of constituencies was increased from 200 to 230 for the 2004 elections. For the 2012 elections, the two scenarios apply.

The first scenario for seven years (2004 and 7 years) makes 2011, the next possible date, a year before 2012 election. The second scenario is that the next population census is due in 2010, with the enumeration figures being published in 2011, twelve months before the 2012 elections. Below is what Article 47 of the 1992 Constitution states on electoral constituencies:

“47. (1) Ghana shall be divided into as many constituencies for the purpose of election of members of parliament as the Electoral Commission may prescribe, and each constituency shall be represented by one member of Parliament.

(2) No constituency shall fall within more than one region.

(3) The boundaries of each constituency shall be such that the number of inhabitants in the constituency is, as nearly as possible, equal to the population quota.

(4) For the purposes of clause (3) of this article, the number of inhabitants of a constituency may be greater or less than the population quota in order to take account of means of communication, geographical features, density of population and area and boundaries of the regions and other administrative or traditional areas.

(5) The Electoral Commission shall review the division of Ghana into constituencies at intervals of not less than seven years, or within twelve months after the publication of the enumeration figures after the holding of a census of the population of Ghana, whichever is earlier, and may, as a result, alter the constituencies.

(6) Where the boundaries of a constituency established under this article are altered as a result of a review, the alteration shall come into effect upon the next dissolution of Parliament.

(7) For the purposes of this article, "population quota" means the number obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants of Ghana by the number of constituencies into which Ghana is divided under this article.”