Parliament’s invitation to Jean Mensa came when she had travelled – EC

• The Electoral Commission (EC) has said the invitation from Parliament to the Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa to brief the House on the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) that is seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration, came a day before the scheduled date for the meeting.

At the time the Commission received the invitation letter, Mrs Jean Mensa had travelled out of the jurisdiction, the EC said.

On Thursday, February 23, the Minority rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed CI.

They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear.

They have been raising issues against the proposed CI.

The Member of Parliament for South Dayi further accused Mrs Jean Mensa of disrespect towards the work of Parliament.

He said the Minority lawmakers were not prepared to accept ” the disrespect” of the EC Chair towards Parliament.

“Yesterday, EC gave 1000 & 1 reasons why Jean Mensa couldn’t be in Parliament to answer questions on her inordinate desire for a new CI.

The Minority stood its grounds: No Jean Mensa, No meeting. Guess what? She’s been flown in from Abuja. Her disrespect of Parliament has to end,” he tweeted.

But a statement issued by the Commission on Monday, February 27 said “The EC received a letter from Parliament on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 inviting the Commission to brief the leadership of the House on the draft CI on the registration of voters on Thursday 23 February 2024.

“At the time the chairperson had traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of ECOWAS/ECONEC for a peer exchange and election observation mission. That notwithstanding Dr Bossman Asare Deputy Chair for Corporate Service attended the meeting together with other directors of the commission.

“Surprisingly, the meeting was canceled as the Minority side insisted on the presence of the EC Chairperson at the meeting. We wish to state that contrary to the news item that the EC chair has returned to Ghana, the chairperson is still in Nigeria. She has not returned to Ghana.”

The EC added “The Commission, especially its chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC.

“The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.

“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting at a time the chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana