We Are Not Creating 25 New Constituencies – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has debunked media reports that it is making preparations to add 25 new constituencies to the existing 275.

Following the resumption of Parliament on October 31, it was reported that the Majority leader, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bosu would present “Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) (Amendment) Instrument, 2023” to the House to alter the existing seats in Parliament.

However, the EC has debunked the reports as false.

“The attention of the Electoral Commission has been drawn to a statement in the media to the effect that 25 New Constituencies are going to be created ahead of the 2024 General Elections.”

According to the Commission, only one constituency will be created, that is, the Guan constituency in the Oti Region.

It furthered, “The Commission has not taken any decision on creating constituencies beyond that of the Guan” and urged the public to disregard the news.

After the Oti Region was carved out of the Volta Region in 2018, the Guan District was created as an administrative district following a Legislative Instrument laid in Parliament by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in 2019.

The District was carved out of the Hohoe Municipality and inaugurated with its capital as Lipke-Mate.

This has necessitated the creation of a constituency there. During the 2020 General Elections, the residents of the new district which comprises Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) were disenfranchised as the new constituency had not been created.

This was because the EC could not present the Constitutional Instrument (CI) to Parliament for the creation on time.

In the bid not to disenfranchise them for the second time, the EC has presented the CI to Parliament ahead of the 2024 General elections.