Parliament summons Jean Mensa over controversial CI.

Parliament summons Jean Mensa over controversial CI.

The contentious proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) is the subject of a demand from the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, that the Head of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, come before the House.

If the newly proposed instrument by the EC is approved, the Ghana Card would become the sole form of identification that will serve as proof of citizenship.

Another condition of the CI is that anybody who wants to register must do so at an EC district office.

The Minority Caucus in the House rejected Deputy Commissioner Bossman Asare's representation of the EC in Parliament on Thursday, February 23, and this led to some arguments as Parliament met late into the night.

Haruna Iddrisu, a Tamale South MP, was one among those who protested the laying of the new CI, arguing that its conditions would deny Ghanaians their right to vote.

The NDC party in the House would prefer that Madam Jean Mensa make a presence to provide the necessary guarantees before the CI would continue to its laying, according to the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

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.”

The Minority Leader's demand was rejected by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who also pointed out that Madam Jean Mensah's appearance before the House was not particularly requested in the invitation extended to the EC.

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 Majority Leader's response, the Speaker insisted that the new CI had major ramifications and that the EC Chairperson herself ought to come before the House to provide explanations.

“The Deputy Chairperson in charge of operation is quite high enough, but he cannot be giving the assurances that the Chairperson will give. In the circumstances, I will be compelled to adjourn the house.,” Mr Bagbin said.

“We will insist that the EC be represented at the highest level and together, we will find solutions to this. It’s very, very important for the peace, the security and the development of this nation.”

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