Electoral Commission lays C.I. for creation of Guan constituency

The Electoral Commission (EC) has taken a step towards the establishment of the Guan Constituency in the Oti Region, as they presented a Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) to Parliament.

Once passed, the instrument will pave the way for the people of the Guan Constituency, encompassing the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) traditional areas, to participate in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections, to gain representation in the Parliament.

Director of the EC's Electoral Services, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe disclosed these developments during an interview with the Daily Graphic on Tuesday.

He emphasized that all essential stakeholder consultations for the establishment of the constituency have been successfully concluded.

It is noteworthy that SALL has collectively agreed to name the new constituency 'Guan,' designating its capital as Likpe-Mate, aligning with the existing district's nomenclature.

During the 2020 general election, the residents of SALL took part in the presidential election but were unable to vote in the parliamentary election due to insufficient time for the EC to present the C.I. to Parliament, which is required for creating a new constituency.

Dr. Quaicoe assured that all necessary preparations, including consultations and the preliminary stages, have been completed. Once Parliament resumes its sessions, the 21-day timeline required for the passage of the C.I. to establish the Guan Constituency should be met by December 2023.

This timely process will enable the people of SALL to participate in the 2024 parliamentary election, ensuring their rightful representation in Parliament.

Shedding light on why SALL couldn't partake in the parliamentary election in 2020, Dr. Quaicoe explained that although the Guan district assembly was established in November 2020, there wasn't adequate time for the EC to submit the C.I. to Parliament ahead of the general election in December.

Source: myjoyonline