JoyNews sources at the Electoral Commission (EC) have uncovered that the Commission does not plan to put any new Constitutional Instrument (CI) before Parliament ahead of the 2024 general election.
The source noted that the Commission has not discussed any new details for a CI to be laid.
This comes after former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told JoyNews that the 2024 elections could be threatened if Parliament is not immediately recalled to allow a yet-to-be-laid CI to mature.
In a yet-to-be-aired interview on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the elections are at risk if Parliament remains adjourned due to the mandatory 21 sitting days needed for the CI to mature.
“I am told that even the instrument, I don’t know whether it’s been laid. If it’s not been laid, we are in the corner of the election. If it’s been laid and by practice, Parliament may not go beyond November 7, what are we doing?
“That is why Parliament needs to sit even if not to transact any business. We can agree that okay, because we have to satisfy this, Parliament would sit not transact any business apart from ensuring that the CI will mature in good time to enable us to conduct our elections.”
Also, last week, at the start of the new meeting of Parliament, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin told the media the House was expecting some critical Constitutional Instruments to be brought to the House.
He noted that adjustments will be made for the 21 sitting days, including weekend and Monday sittings for the CIs to mature.
“We expect the Judiciary to bring a CI. I think the Chief Justice signaled to bring a CI to regulate election petitions so we expect that.
“I think the EC has indicated that they would also bring a CI for the election,” he said.
Source: Emma Ankrah
