Religious leaders meet political parties

The country’s religious leaders have met political parties in a bid to resolve the raging controversy over the creation of the 45 new constituencies, a matter that analysts have noted could ruin Ghana’s enviable reputation for holding peaceful elections.

The closed-door dialogue session had representation from the NPP, NDC, PPP, PNC and CPP.

Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, in an interview with Joy News said some political parties were concerned about the timing stating it was “too short to choose parliamentary candidates before the general elections. Others also felt the EC should be allowed to do their work without any interference.”

According to Most Rev. Prof. Asante, all the parties, however, “agreed that the EC had the right to make its own decisions.”

The religious bodies who had already met with the EC last week say, they do not have an official position on the issue except to broker peace among the political actors whilst calling on them to respect the rule of law.

The religious leaders have planned yet another meeting that will bring together political parties and the EC a week from today.

Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante has meanwhile described today’s meeting as fruitful and hoped there will be consensus by the end of the final meeting next week.