While political parties emerged out of a meeting with the Electoral Commission with the understanding that a controversial committee it set up has been suspended, the commission has released a statement saying that is not the case.

The Commission says reports of the suspension of its steering committee are "erroneous" and "should be disregarded".

There is rare unanimity amongst the country’s political parties over the necessity of a Steering Committee. The NDC,NPP,PNC have expressed satisfaction about the decision to suspend the committee.

The parties say the EC could not provide cogent answers to questions about why it found it necessary to establish such a committee to oversee the November 7 polls.

 The parties are waiting for a cogent justification from the EC after they met last Friday at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee with the EC.

But the EC in a statement released less than 24 hours after the meeting says, the EC says its decision has been misconstrued.

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Full Statement

The Electoral Commission’s attention has been drawn to reports in the media that the National Election Steering Committee has been suspended.

The Commission wishes to inform the public that the reports are erroneous and should be disregarded.

At the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, held yesterday, 19th February, 2016 the Commission assured the stakeholders, after persistent calls for the Commission to reconsider the setting up of the Committee that it would meet and discuss the concerns raised and inform IPAC of its decision later.

This should not be misconstrued as a suspension of the Committee. The Committee remains in place until a contrary decision is made.

The Commission wishes to appeal to the Committee members to stay focused as it takes the necessary steps to address the concerns raised.

Thank you.

SIGNED
CHRISTIAN OWUSU-PARRY
AG. DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS.