Two parties do not satisfy EC requirements.

Bolgatanga, Feb.22, GNA- Two political parties, the United Ghana Movement (UGM) and the Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP), face possibility of not getting licenses to operate as political parties in the forthcoming election.

This is because the two parties have practically failed to meet the standard requirements of political parties as outlined in the Political Parties Registration Act, which directs that all parties should have offices functioning in at least two thirds of the regional capitals in the country.

Mr. Kwame Damoah Agyemang, Chief Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), who made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, explained that the decision to withdraw the licenses of the two parties is part of recommendations of the inspection committee of EC after an exercise it conducted last year to inspect offices of political parties throughout the country.

He said the EC would take action on the recommendation after the inauguration of the reconstituted Commission. He was, however, sceptical on how soon the decision would be enforced.

He said the two parties have also consistently failed to attend meetings organized by the EC for political parties, adding that they have since the 2000 election not presented their audit accounts to the EC.

Mr. Agyemang stated that political parties are expected to be fully active at all times, and said the pronouncement by the Presidential Candidate for the UGM, Dr. Wereko Brobbey that his party was on leave, was unacceptable. "As registered political parties there are no conditions spelt out in the registration Act for parties to choose to go on leave."

He said there were 10 registered political parties currently in the country.