Movement for Equal Rights and Justice is calling on the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to stop with immediate effect, the attempt to create Forty Five (45) additional Constituencies across the country, out of the 42 new Districts created by Government last year. The EC should rather maintain the 230 constituencies for now. Refusal to heed this advice could plunge this country into an irrevocable violence, especially before, during and after this year’s polls. Election 2012 is going to mark a watershed in our political history, in the sense that it is going to give Ghanaians, as the adjudicators, an opportunity to pass a verdict of eight years of NPP administration, as against the total twelve years of the NDC administration in the 4th republic. The Electoral Commission as the referee and independent body in this great political battle owes a duty to be fair enough to ensure that the election is free and fair without any hitches. It might be prudent for the EC to create more constituencies, but it should not happen less than six months to the general elections. Especially when the biometric exercise has just ended. Even if it is backed by law, common sense must be applied, which means that the law cannot be used haphazardly. Last year in December, there were reports that the EC would create additional 45 Constituencies following the creation of 42 new Districts by the Government. But the EC boss came out to rubbish those reports. However, the EC said they were waiting for the census results and as per the Legislative Instrument, create those new Constituencies. But regrettably, the Government had already created more 42 new Districts without having the long awaited census results. Was it a special arrangement between the Statistical Service and the ruling Government to delay the release of the figures? Ghanaians cannot be blamed for the abysmal performance of the Ghana Statistical Service for the late partial release of the census results, since it began in 2010. Ghana Government invested so much into the census to the extent that the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills had to return from China to be counted and left the country the next day to Japan. Therefore the EC cannot use the recent partial release of the census as a yardstick to create more constituencies in the country. We do not think that the political parties are adequately prepared to hold primaries in those new constituencies, not to mention the wastage it would cause in terms of resources. Even if they do, the timing is wrong and the number of constituencies to be created could favour one political party, especially the ruling Government. Ghana has come a long way since it began practicing democracy in this country. We are therefore sending this clarion call to the Electoral Commission to put its home in order and avoid any push from the Government to create more constituencies in favour of the government. It should be noted that Ghanaians are wide awake and would never forgive the Electoral Commission and Dr. Afari Gyan, in particular if they fail to protect the infant democracy Ghana has fought for. President Mills who is also a professor of Law should be seen acting to bring sanity into this year’s election by allowing the Electoral Commission to apply the appropriate laws regarding the Local Government Acts, which allows the EC as an independent body to create Constituencies in the country. By this statement, we are calling on the Christian Council of Ghana, all religious groups, National Peace Council, Think Thank groups, stakeholders and all well meaning Ghanaians to come out and condemn this diabolic act by the Electoral Commission which could plunge this nation into chaotic circumstances. Thank You, Signed; 20th June, 2012 Directors; Hon. Thomas Adongo Joseph Otoo Raphael Nuwornu