National Chairman of the PPP, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has criticised the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to create more constituencies for the 2020 general elections.

The EC is set to create 25 additional constituencies, bringing the number to 300, with the Ashanti Region alone getting about 17.

The remaining 12 would be distributed to the other regions.

Speaking on the development on the Morning Starr, The National Chairman of the PPP, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond dismissed the move as unnecessary.

“We feel it’s a bad idea to expand the 275 constituencies which is a fair representation considering the size of the nation,” he told the Morning Starr host Francis Abban on Monday 29 April.

“Two hundred and seventy, five constituencies are enough. I don’t see what benefits we’ll derive as Ghanaians when the constituencies are increased. There will be challenges that will come with the additional 25 which to me is uncalled for,” Mr Hammond added.

He said there are more pressing issues “we need to take care of as a country to improve on the welfare of the Ghanaian” and it would be wise “for us to freeze the number of Parliamentarians we have in this country.”

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has accused President Akufo-Addo of influencing the EC to create the additional constituencies to give the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) undue advantage in the 2020 elections.

Speaking on the Morning Starr, the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip Ahmed Ibrahim said: “Before 2018, when the issue about Charlotte Osei became topical, I indicated clearly that the faceless people who asked for her to leave will make some demands. Mr. President has an agenda against the NDC and has asked the EC to create new and additional 25 constituencies to disadvantage others.”

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM