Some Political Parties Threaten Action Against EC Website
Political parties in the country are up in arms against the Electoral Commission (EC) for failing to call IPAC meetings. Some of the parties are threatening to take unilateral action against the EC. The Inter-Party Advisory Committee meetings are held between the political parties and the EC to discuss issues bothering on the conduct of elections. Speaking to Joy News’ Evans Mensah, the First Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, said his party had been too patient with the EC. He said the party could no longer accept the inaction of the EC. According to him, the EC was supposed to call two meetings in February, 2008, but it failed to do so. “We are giving the commission the last chance to redeem their image”, he warned. Mr Afriyie stressed that it was unacceptable for the EC to determine when and how to call IPAC meetings, saying it will be held to account if it failed to organise the meetings. The General Secretary of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Mr. Bernard Mornah also expressed worry at the situation. He said for the past seven years, calling IPAC meetings by the EC had become irregular. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) acknowledged the problem but said a decision was yet to be taken on it. But the EC denied any wrong doing, arguing that calling meetings remained the exclusive right of the commission. The Acting Head of the Public Affairs Department of the EC, Mr Samuel York Aidoo explained that the irregular nature of the IPAC meeting was because the political circumstance in the country dictated that. He said meetings were held regularly in the past because there was the need for such meetings. “Are we suggesting that because meetings were organised frequently in the past we must call for meetings even if there is nothing to discuss?” he asked. Mr. Aidoo stressed that the EC will organise the meetings when there were issues to discuss.
Source: MJFM
