Ho, Dec. 09, GNA— The Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Llikpe Traditional Areas, have written to the Electoral Commission (EC) concerning its failure to create a Constituency for the area.
The EC on December 6, 2020, issued a Notice suspending the participation of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL) Areas in the Parliamentary elections in the 2020 general elections.
Ing. Seth K. Owusu and Dr. J. K. Addae, Co-Chairmen, Joint Steering Committee (JSC) in a letter to the EC Chairperson and copied to the Majority and Minority Leaders, stakeholders, and selected media houses, said the failure of the people voting in the Parliamentary elections meant the non-representation for the SALL people in the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
“Contrary to Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, the denial of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe Areas from participating Parliamentary elections meant the non-representation for the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) Areas in the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.”
The statement said the people of the area believed the EC exceeded its mandate by disenfranchising the registered voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe Areas thereby subverting the integrity of their democratic order.
“Indeed, your notice did not suggest that the registered voters in Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe areas were being erased from an entire electoral cycle.”
The letter said the EC’s failure to remedy the “anomalous situation” degraded the SALL area into a “de facto colony within a democratic republic; our people having no representation in the legislative house but subject to legislative acts of compatriots.”
It said they expected that after the said notice, the EC would take the necessary steps to restore their full electoral rights of citizenship as guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Sadly, there has been no urgency or indication of ethical responsibility to lift the suspension of the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL) peoples’ rights and heal the gaping injury to our representative democracy.”
It said they wished to remind and urge the EC to fulfill its duty by taking the necessary steps to cure “this unconstitutional and embarrassing situation” which happened a year ago adding that “every extra day of inaction is too much a miscarriage of justice. Ghana including all its people deserves better.”
It said, “We trust that the infinite spirit grants you wisdom to do right and justify the high expectations and goodwill of the nation.”
GNA