Using lawyers, accountants not panacea - Nduom

Plans by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to engage lawyers and chartered accountants during the December polls is not enough to ensure the polls are credible, flag bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has said.

“If we do not do the right things and wait till the day of voting to now bring on board some legal practitioners and other experts to come and help validate the results, then I am sorry I cannot rejoice over that,” he noted.

According to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, personnel from the Ghana Bar Association will be engaged in the filling of forms while the expertise of chartered accountants will be used in the collation of results at the constituency level.

This forms part of efforts to ensure a free and fair election on December 7, according to the EC.

But speaking on Class FM’s Campaign Trail on 12Live with Naa Dedei Tettey, Dr Nduom held the view that all activities prior to the elections were equally important and not only what happened on Election Day.

For him, issues such as political party licensing, auditing of accounts and all other regulations spelt out in the constitution needed to be adhered to. “It is not just about the day we decide to go and vote but ensuring that political parties are properly licensed, how they raise money [should be checked] and so on,” he explained.

“What has happened to the rule that only political parties who meet the [requirements of the] law are allowed to operate. There are many so-called political parties that do not have what it takes, like offices, not being national, yet they call themselves political parties”.

He explained that “some people are raising funds illegally” yet are being allowed to operate. He felt some politicians were also using taxpayers’ money to campaign, yet the EC was unconcerned.