Political Parties fail to submit audited accounts

Accra, July 10, GNA- The Electoral Commission (EC) said on Thursday that all the political parties failed to submit their audited accounts to the Commission by the deadline, June 30, this year, as required by the electoral law.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) however, submitted its accounts seven days after the deadline, the EC said.

The parties were to submit their audited accounts to the EC by June 30, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Henry W. Okyne, who told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra said available records indicate that the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Convention People's Party (CPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples National Convention have filed up to 2001.

The EGLE, Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the National Reform Party (NRP) have never submitted an audited account to the Commission, whilst the United Ghana Movement (UGM) submitted only for 1999.

The law says: "A political party shall, within six months from December 31st of each year, file with the Commission a return indicating the state of its accounts; the source of its funds and membership dues paid or risk cancellation of its registration.

"Without prejudice to any other penalty prescribed by the Act or any other enactment, where a political party refuses or neglects to comply with the provision or submits a declaration that is false in any material, the Commission may cancel its registration."

Mr Okyne said most of the political parties have turned a blind eye to the law and stressed that the practice is dangerous for the growth of democracy in the country.

The law also requires political parties to inform EC about other sources of funding including contributions or donations in cash or kind and property, adding that these are constitutional and statutory provisions that the parties are required to meet and make available to the Commission for verification.

"The Act says this shall be supported by a statutory declaration made by the national treasurer and the national or general secretary of the party''.

It allows only a citizen to contribute in cash or kind to a party without limitation. Foreigners are not allowed to contribute financially to any political party.

It said any person or company that contravenes the constitutional provision on funding of political parties would forfeit such amount to the state.

A non-citizen found guilty of contravention of the provision shall be deemed to be a prohibited immigrant and liable to deportation under the Aliens Act.

officials at the national, regional and district offices though the initial list submitted to the Commission for registration had changed.