The Electoral Commission (EC) has set up a new instrument in Parliament for the creation of new constituencies in the Oti region.
The National Representation (Parliamentary Districts) (Amendment) Instrument 2023 will deal with the creation of the Guan constituency comprising Santrokofi, Akpahu, Likupe and Lolobi (SALL).
If the creation of this new district is successful, the number of parliamentary seats will increase from 275 to 276.
Currently, residents of SALL, which is part of Guan district, have no representation in parliament.
Yesterday, Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu presented the document on behalf of the committee to the floor of Parliament.
please forgive our sins
Immediately after its enactment, Speaker of the National Assembly Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin referred the document to the Subsidiary Legislative Committee for consideration and subsequent report to the House of Commons.
“This is a tool that will save this house and forgive us the deadly sins we are said to have committed.
“It deals with SALL issues, many of which are currently before the House of Commons for consideration,” he said.
background
The Guan District, comprising Santrokofi, Akpahu, Lipke and Lolovi (SALL) in the Oti Region, was established in 2019 pursuant to a legislative instrument enacted in Parliament by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
This district was previously part of the Hohoe Municipality, District Electoral District and Unit Designation Act, 2014, CI 85.
However, in the 2018 Referendum (Creation of New Regions) Regulations CI 109 dated November 30, 2018, the region was placed in the Oti region following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Creation of Six New Regions.
As a result, Guan became part of the Oti Region in February 2019 with the Oti Regional Agreement 2019, CI 112.
It was also included in the Jasikan district of the Oti region, as stipulated in the designation of district constituencies and unit assemblies.
However, the people of SALL did not participate in the December 7, 2020 parliamentary elections and only voted in the presidential election.
This follows the EC’s announcement on December 6, 2020.
This disenfranchisement has so far provoked a number of reactions, with many concerned Ghanaians calling for the situation to be addressed ahead of the 2024 general elections.