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EC to submit Political Party's Support
Funds draft to Cabinet
Akosombo, Sept. 22, Ghanadot/GNA - The Electoral Commission
(EC) through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) on
Saturday said a draft bill for the establishment of
Political Party's Support Funds would be submitted to
Cabinet.
Mr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan Chairman of the Electoral Commission
(EC) told Journalists at Akosombo that political parties
inability to muster adequate resources to operate
effectively "must be a collective worry of us all and not a
challenge to the individual parties alone".
He said in view of these difficulties; public funding would
enhance access to political positions by those with the
competency, but lacked the financial resources to support
parties, and thereby reduce manipulation of appointments by
party financiers.
New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC),
Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Peoples National Convention
(PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the
Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) attended the Special IPAC
meeting.
Others were; National Reform Party (NRP; Democratic Freedom
Party (DFP) as well as the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES)
and KAB Governance Consult (KGC).
Dr. Afari-Gyan said public funding of political parties
would be a more beneficial support for the parties to
achieve their goals than the edict for fair opportunities in
the state media.
He said this at the backdrop of a scenario of all the
political parties being cash strapped and incapable of
adequately performing their constitutional role as "a
lifeline of democracy."
He said presently all the registered parties were not
capable of maintaining offices and staff as required by law,
let alone ensuring a meaningful monitoring of their own
programmes or political activities.
"They (political parties) are not on the ground most of the
time. Beyond statements in the media, most of the time they
do nothing", Mr. Afari-Gyan stated.
He said some political parties were not resourced enough to
monitor voters registration exercises on a daily basis and
even appoint agents to polling stations but only wait to
make unsubstantiated allegations about the padding of the
register and impropriety after elections.
He said some of the parties for lack of resources were
unable to dialogue with the electorate during campaigning
beyond whistle stops.
"That type of shoddy campaigning, driving through the
streets and making noise does not win elections," the
Electoral Commissioner stated.
Dr. Afari-Gyan observed that views on the issue had been
collated and passed on to government in the past but Cabinet
then only said, "it was a good idea but not time yet".
He said the problem must be looked at from the perspective
of "what is good for the country and not present advantage".
He said spreading resources would contribute to curbing
corruption among Politicians who gave improper favours to
their financiers in return for resources when in power.
Dr. Afari-Gyan said that if the idea of public funding is
accepted then the forums would have to suggest modalities,
including source of funding, basis for and proportions in
which it would be distributed.
He however, added that though physical resources were not
everything, "the party that does not have it is
handicapped".
He said public funding of political parties should not mean
the absorption of all the bills of the parties and that
they, the parties would still have to find money for some of
their operations.
According to the EC, who would manage the funds, the parties
would not be given physical money. The parties would be
supported through provision of resources and other training
programmes.
Mr. Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of KAB
Governance Consult argued that state funding of parties
would also strengthen its internal structures to enable them
to focus on the role of public education, dissemination of
political information and generally raise political
awareness of the citizenry.
It would also encourage minority parties with relevant or
alternative national programmes, to work hard to have
national coverage to qualify for funding.
Mr. Afriyie Badu said ultimately, when the parties become
strong enough to work effectively in the regions and
districts, they would enrich political debate and enhance
political awareness of the citizenry.
GNA
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