The Electoral Commission has announced the roadmap to the referendum to create new regions.

At an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Wednesday, the Electoral Commission announced that it has set aside September 16 to 25 to conduct limited registration exercise and exhibition of the voters’ register in the concerned areas.

The commission announced that December 27, 2018 has been set for the referendum.

According to the communications director of the Electoral Commission, the limited voters’ registration for the 45 districts in the 6 areas to be carved out will be conducted online.

The EC also noted that the modalities for the referendum will soon be finalised and published and a Legal Instrument (LI) presented to Parliament once it reconvenes.

Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress was absent at the meeting.

According to the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the invitation for the meeting came at 12:14 pm on Wednesday while the meeting was at 1:00 pm same day.

Asiedu Nketia

He explained to Joy News’ Kwesi Parker Wilson that the first notice for the meeting came to him as a text message from the deputy communications director of the EC two days ago.

“The message did not contain any agenda and only stated that it was an emergency meeting,” he noted.

He indicated that per the conventions of IPAC meetings, that was not a proper way to invite the NDC to the meeting.

“So we haven’t been invited,” he stressed.

He also noted that the mode of invitation is a manifestation of the incompetence at the helm of the EC.

Opposition to EC appointments

The NDC vehemently opposed the appointment of Jean Mensa as EC boss after the position became vacant following the impeachment of Charlotte Osei and her two deputies.

Read: ‘Jean Mensa is pro-NPP, anti-NDC’ – Opposition kicks against EC Chair nominee

The party argued that Mrs Mensa displayed bias in her role as head of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The NDC boycotted some programmes organised by the Jean Mensa-led IEA for such bias claims.

Source: myjoyonline.com