Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday gave strong indication of the Government's support for the State funding of political parties to rid them of faceless financers.
"To me, the issue of public funding for political parties is more than making budgetary allocation to political parties, neither is it about winning elections, it is about strengthening the main pillars of democratic governance and rule of law to secure the future of the country."
He said, "such public funds would rid parties of one individual or group of persons and faceless financiers who by virtue of funding, either stifle opposition, discount contrary views and suggestion, take decisions without consultation and generally manage the party dictatorially.
"In Government, such party funded by individual becomes a dictator, and can undermine multiparty democratic system of governance with narrow agenda, not necessarily in consonance with the public good." President Kufuor stated this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning at the final of a Nationwide Consultative Forum on Financing Political Parties and the Electoral Process.
The forum seeks to build consensus on the way forward for the financing of political parties and the electoral process, how to resources the parties to make them more effective in the performance of their duties and examination of the challenges of financing elections in the country.
About one hundred participants, comprising representatives of Political Parties, Trades Unions, Security Organisations, Professional Organisations and Chiefs attended the forum, which was organised, by the EC and KAB Consult, an NGO, with funding from USAID.
President Kufuor 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.
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. President Kufuor also calls for establishment of proper structures and carefully thought-out sources to feed the fund, processes for qualification, times for sourcing of the fund, and implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
He said the relevant peace and security, which the country is enjoying, was attained at the high cost of the lives of some citizens, under authoritarian regimes.
Today, under multi-party democratic governance there is freedom as well as choice... to be able to function very effectively, they need to be empowered, and finance is a top priority need.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) said the problem of the 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 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 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.
He said money could distort the choice of options available to the electorate, explaining that the idea of some funding of political parties was to spread resources to ensure an equal playing ground. 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 public funding would also 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.
He said public funding of political parties might be a more beneficial support for the parties to achieve their goals than the edict for fair opportunities in the state media.
Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday gave strong indication of the Government's support for the State funding of political parties to rid them of faceless financers.
"To me, the issue of public funding for political parties is more than making budgetary allocation to political parties, neither is it about winning elections, it is about strengthening the main pillars of democratic governance and rule of law to secure the future of the country."
He said, "such public funds would rid parties of one individual or group of persons and faceless financiers who by virtue of funding, either stifle opposition, discount contrary views and suggestion, take decisions without consultation and generally manage the party dictatorially.
"In Government, such party funded by individual becomes a dictator, and can undermine multiparty democratic system of governance with narrow agenda, not necessarily in consonance with the public good." President Kufuor stated this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning at the final of a Nationwide Consultative Forum on Financing Political Parties and the Electoral Process.
The forum seeks to build consensus on the way forward for the financing of political parties and the electoral process, how to resources the parties to make them more effective in the performance of their duties and examination of the challenges of financing elections in the country.
About one hundred participants, comprising representatives of Political Parties, Trades Unions, Security Organisations, Professional Organisations and Chiefs attended the forum, which was organised, by the EC and KAB Consult, an NGO, with funding from USAID.
President Kufuor 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.
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. President Kufuor also calls for establishment of proper structures and carefully thought-out sources to feed the fund, processes for qualification, times for sourcing of the fund, and implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
He said the relevant peace and security, which the country is enjoying, was attained at the high cost of the lives of some citizens, under authoritarian regimes.
Today, under multi-party democratic governance there is freedom as well as choice... to be able to function very effectively, they need to be empowered, and finance is a top priority need.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) said the problem of the 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 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 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.
He said money could distort the choice of options available to the electorate, explaining that the idea of some funding of political parties was to spread resources to ensure an equal playing ground. 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 public funding would also 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.
He said public funding of political parties might be a more beneficial support for the parties to achieve their goals than the edict for fair opportunities in the state media.
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