Sources within the Electoral Commission (EC) confirm there are currently no plans to introduce new constitutional instruments (CIs) in Parliament ahead of the critical 2024 General Elections.
This has raised concerns among political leaders, with former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu cautioning that election timelines could be compromised if Parliament does not reconvene soon to address the matter.
In an interview with Joy News, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained, “In election years, Parliament would not sit beyond 7th November. Everyone wants to be in the field by then, so by practice, the third meeting should end no later than that date.”
He added, “If the Speaker had summoned Parliament on November 1st, the EC’s CI, if reintroduced, would have had a chance within that time. But that didn’t happen.”
He further explained that with the delay in recalling Parliament, it’s now difficult to meet the mandatory 21-day period for a CI to mature, stating “If the instrument hasn’t been laid, we’re risking the elections. Even if it has, it’s concerning that Parliament won’t sit past November 7th. What are we doing?” he asked.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu underscored that an earlier recall of Parliament could have facilitated the CI’s maturation period before the election, emphasizing “Parliament should have been sitting by now to ensure that the CI would mature in good time for the elections.”
Meanwhile, Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, told the press earlier that Parliament is awaiting several key constitutional instruments from both the Electoral Commission and the judiciary, including one on election petitions that will be key for the upcoming polls.
He highlighted the tight timeline, noting that the current parliamentary session has only a few weeks remaining noting “Because there are some critical CIs expected, we may need to consider weekend or Monday sittings to meet the timeline.”
With the session’s end approaching, he noted that the constitutional requirement for 21 sitting days could pose a challenge unless Parliament takes extra measures.
“We expect to be around for another three weeks. Given the timeframe, adjustments may be necessary for weekend and Monday sittings to fast-track the process,” he concluded.
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Source: ATLFMNEWS
