Referendum for New Regions to Begin despite Court Suit – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced plans to proceed with its limited Voter Registration Exercise ahead of the referendum on the creation of six new regions despite a law suit at the Supreme Court against it.

A civil society group, Stranek Africa, is praying the apex court to halt government’s intention of increasing the administrative regions of the country from 10 to 16.

The largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has also raised concerns about the failure of the EC under the leadership of new chair Jean Mensa, to involve them in the whole process.

Addressing journalists on Friday, 14 September 2018, for the first time since becoming EC Chair, Mrs Mensa said the writ served on the EC did not constitute an injunction.

“The suit was delivered yesterday but it was not with an application and, therefore, it cannot be held to be binding an effective injunction on the commission and, therefore, that is why we are going ahead with the exercise as planned,” she explained.

The EC boss further announced a time-table for a limited registration exercise covering 47 districts which will be affected by the creation of the regions and indicated that she will be meeting the NDC and other political parties on the way forward.