IPAC decisions not binding on EC – Dep. Commissioner

Mr Amadu Sulley, Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission (EC) said on Thursday that the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has no legal backing and its main function is to deliberate, share ideas and advise on electoral matters.

He said the decisions of IPAC are not binding on the EC but the Commission takes the IPAC deliberations seriously since they could be a collective search for transparent electoral system.

Mr Sulley said this during a four-day meeting between Ugandan Political Parties with Representatives in Parliament and their Ghanaian counterparts in Accra.

The programme on the theme: “The role of Ghanaian Political Parties in Shaping and Influencing the National Agenda – Lessons from Ghana” was under the sponsorship of the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Netherland Institute of Multi-Party Democracy.

He said whenever there was an issue and a consensus emerged from the dialogue and it was reasonable, practicable and lawful the EC gave it the serious consideration it deserved.

He said the IPAC was made up of representatives of all registered political parties and the EC and it was structured in such a way that there were Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (RIPAC) and District Inter-Party Advisory Committee (DIPAC).

Mr Sulley said the Regional and District Committees were made up of the registered political parties in the Region and the District with all their meetings being chaired by the EC officers.

He said the meetings of IPAC in an election year were normally held once every month at the offices of the EC and meetings are attended by representatives of all registered political parties

Mr Sulley said IPAC meetings were chaired by the Chairman and in his absence his position was taken by one of the two deputies.

Source: GNA