Expedite action on creation of Guan constituency – Kofi Adams to EC

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem in the Oti Region, Kofi Adams, has described as unfortunate the failure of the Electoral Commission (EC) to present a constitutional Instrument to parliament to create the Guan Constituency.

During the 2020 general elections, residents of the area took part in the presidential election but did not vote in the parliamentary election.

This was due to a directive from the EC stating that the area, comprising Santrofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi communities known as SALL, were not under any constituency in either the Oti or Volta regions.

It added that it was not possible to create a new constituency for the community because the Constitutional Instrument needed could not mature in the 7th Parliament.

Speaking in an interview recently, the MP for Buem, Mr. Adams said the EC should take steps to present the required constitutional instrument before parliament because the area now has a district.

“The delay is unfortunate because this is something that the Electoral Commission should have speedily acted on because they were the ones who wrote the letter indicating that the area that now forms the Guan district will not take part in the election of MPs on December 7, 2020.

From then till now, they (EC) should have taken the necessary steps to bring a C.I. before this parliament to create a constituency,” he said.

The Guan District consists of the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) traditional areas.

Some residents from these areas sued the EC over their inability to vote.

The Guan District in the Oti Region was created following a Legislative Instrument laid in Parliament by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in 2019.

The area was previously part of the Hohoe Municipality.

The people of Lolobi and Akpafu have also petitioned the EC on the matter and is still awaiting a response.

In a letter to the EC, they said the EC had “taken our guaranteed rights away from us, thus unlawfully shutting the door on us.”

-citifmonline.com