The Electoral Commission is said to have spent an amount of ¢317 million on the botched District Assembly elections. It still needs another ¢90 million to organise fresh elections after the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the District Assembly elections which was supposed to have been organised on March 3, 2015.
Chairman of the Electoral Commission Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan made these revelations during a close door meeting with Members of Parliament on Tuesday.The EC came under a barrage of criticisms when the Supreme Court put the intended District level elections on ice.
An aspiring District Assemblymember Eyi Mensah who was denied an opportunity to file his nomination to contest the election proceeded to the Supreme Court to challenge the conduct of the election.He averred that the EC illegally closed nominations before the maturation of CI 85, a situation which prevented him from registering to contest in the election.
Per the country’s laws a Constitutional Instrument can only mature after a mandatory 21 days sitting in Parliament.
The EC however maintained that it followed due process in its conduct of the election.The Supreme Court after hearing the substance of the case, ruled in favour of the plaintiff and declared the March 3, election as null and void. The EC chair was hauled before Parliament to explain the circumstances under which the elections were botched.
Joy News has heard from close sources within Parliament that the EC is looking to organise new elections in July, 2015.
It needs an amount of ¢90 million to conduct new elections.
It will be the last election to be presided over by the current Chairman of the Electoral Commission who will be going on retirement this year.
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