Newly formed All People’s Congress (APC) political party is criticizing calls by small political parties for extension of the Electoral Commission (EC)’s May 31 deadline to set up offices in districts across the country.

A number of small parties are challenging the EC’s directive. The decision has been described by flagbearers and some party functionaries as arbitrary and unlawful.

But, founder of APC, Hassan Ayariga told Joy News some of the not-so-established parties have been in existence for decades and have no excuse to the dire.

"All these smaller parties have been in existence for many years and the EC did not only give the warning last night. The EC told them long ago and so they should not blame the EC for their laziness...not only that but lack of leadership," he said.   

This notwithstanding, Mr. Ayariga challenged the two main parties to show proof of their 144 offices across the country. 

Also supporting Mr. Ayariga's view is National Organiser of National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams is asking the Electoral Commission not to extend the May 31, deadline but, rather enforce the law.

"If the law is there, it must be obeyed. If we don't want that law all of us as a country must decide that we want the law amended or taken out, but if we want it, it must be applied.

Mr. Adams bemoaned the fact that Ghanaians are always asking for extensions when deadlines have clearly been set.

Mr. Adams supports banning the small parties for non-compliance of the EC's deadline, adding that ,"if that is the way they feel that the laws allow them to do, why not? They should just apply the law."

However, National Chairman of the People's National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah wants the EC to focus on banning political parties that have folded up.

Mr. Mornah finds it extremely strange that for a party which has been participating in elections since 1992, the EC is now asking it to show proof of offices across the country.  

He agrees with the EC in banning some moribund parties which are existing only in the books, citing the United Ghana Movement (UGM) whose members have all moved to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).

He said for such parties, it is easy for the EC to ban them not parties which, "have been resilience, have contested in elections and have proof that they have the offices that they say they do."

Mr. Mornah said it is unfair for the EC to say they are going to ensure rigid enforcement of law.