SUNYANI, January 03 -- Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the victorious NPP (New Patriotic Party), on Tuesday hinted that the incoming government of the party would seriously work towards the institution of a mechanism to give state support and sponsorship to political parties.
He said there is already a national consensus on the issue "but the lack of political will towards its actualisation by the NDC government has thwarted its implementation". Mr. Botwe, who was speaking to the Ghana News agency in Sunyani, recalled the outcome of a national forum held sometime ago, which advocated the institution of a fund by the state to support the operations and growth of parties.
This, he noted, was due to the realisation that helping parties to operate and grow would not only lead to the consolidation of democracy in the country but would also contribute towards its development.
"Sadly, however, the official report submitted by the Electoral Commission, which advocated state sponsorship of political parties, was rejected outright by the NDC government."
Mr. Botwe contended that, with a national consensus on the issue, what is left to be done is the designing of modalities for ascertaining which parties benefit, what and how much should be given to them.
"We have the brains in the country to surmount this problem and the NPP government will consult widely to bring the scheme into fruition since it will help consolidate democracy in the country."
On the future of certain state agencies like the Non-Formal Education Division, National Disaster Management Organisation and the National Mobilisation Programme, which are rumoured to be partisan, he said their continued existence would depend on their productivity and relevance.
"If they are found to be productive and relevant to the cause of national development, they will be supported to continue to operate and their personnel need not be apprehensive, irrespective of their political affiliations."
Mr. Botwe, however, cautioned that if these agencies are found to be "waste pipes" and duplicating the functions of other state agencies, then there would no other alternative than to restructure them.
The restructuring, if need be, he emphasised, will not be motivated by political reasons but by economic factors. "Having promised Ghanaians that a government of the NPP is going to make job creation its priority, it cannot go about closing down state agencies indiscriminately merely because its personnel are perceived to be pro-NDC."
On the call by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Justice D.F. Annan to the NPP to appoint some of the NDC ministers into its government, the General Secretary said "that is the prerogative of Mr. J.A. Kufuor, President-elect, who has already promised to form an all inclusive Government."
