Funding of political parties not states funding - AG

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - Papa Owusu-Ankumah, Attorney General and Minister for Justice on Tuesday called for clarification of the debate for funding of political parties stressing, "it does not necessarily mean state funding, that is certainly not the understanding of Government."

He therefore, reminded the public on Government's position and assured the public that the ruling government would not take a unilateral action on the report, "but as it always does when dealing with important matters of national interest would be sensitive to public views."

Papa Owusu-Ankumah made the remarks when he launched the report of the Consultative Fora on Financing Political Parties and the Electoral Process in Accra.

The report was the collaborative work of the Electoral Commission (EC), KAB Governance Consult (KGC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Attorney General said apart from consulting on the report Government would also not rush in taking a decision on the matter "as in the final analysis, Parliament, the representatives of the people, may have the final word on the matter".

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission said the 1992 Constitution expects the political parties to contribute to shaping the political will of the people and to building a democratic culture in the country.

To be able to achieve this, Dr Afari-Gyan said the Constitution envisages the political parties as decentralised bodies, carrying out relevant activities quite different.

In spite of this constitutional provisions, ample evidence on the grounds indicates that beyond contesting elections, the political parties are unable to carry out other meaningful activities entirely from their own resources.

"This has been the reason for the quest for more substantial public support for the activities of the political parties".

Dr Afari-Gyan said the launching of the report was a step towards the realisation of the quest for public support for political parties but stressed that a lot remains to be done.

The launching does not represent the end of the road...a lot remains to be done towards reaching consensus on the parameters of and eligibility for support, and putting in place appropriate legislation and mechanisms for the realisation of the support.

He said the EC would collaborate with the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and the Ministry of Justice to push the unfinished agenda forward.

The EC Chairman presented a Memorandum on enhanced public support for political parties to President John Agyekum Kufuor through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

The launching was chaired by Mr Kwame Pianim, Chairman of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and was attended by representatives of political parties, Media Practitioners, Governance Bodies and a cross-section of EC Staff.