Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa to appear in person before the House over the controversial proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI).
The proposed instrument is seeking to make Ghana Card the only source document for establishing the citizenship of eligible voters.
Also inherent in the CI. is a requirement that persons who want to register to do so at an EC district office.
On Thursday, February 23, the EC was represented in Parliament by Deputy Commissioner, Bossman Asare but was opposed by the Minority Caucus in the House which prompted some disagreements as Parliament sat deep into the night.
Among those who opposed the laying of the new CI was Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu who pointed out that the requirements in the new CI would disenfranchise Ghanaians.
The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson also insisted that the NDC group in the House will prefer that Madam Jean Mensa made an appearance to give the house the needed assurances before the CI will proceed to its laying.
Dr Forson said that “Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission is not here. I recognise Mr Speaker that Deputy is here, but it is not the same as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. As we speak, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has consistently avoided parliament.
“We are of the view that we have raised today in this chamber since morning, as serious issues that we prefer and will want the electoral commissioner to be here to give us the needed assurances.”
But the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disagreed with the Minority Leader’s demand and explained that the invitation sent out to the EC did not specifically request that Madam Jean Mensah herself appear before the House.
The Suame legislator stated that, “the invitation was to two institutions and that his preference and the preference of the Majority is that the two institutions should be represented by their heads.
“The Chairperson then gave an indication that the invitation was indeed to the institutions and not to the Chairs.”
Notwithstanding the explanation given by the Majority Leader, the Speaker said that the new CI had serious implications and therefore the EC Chairperson herself must appear before the House to make clarifications.