EC has high integrity to defend - Adeenze-Kanga

Accra, March 14, GNA - Mr David Adeenze-Kanga, Deputy Chairman in-Charge of Finance and Administration of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Friday said the Commission had high international and local integrity widely acknowledged by electoral administrators to defend.

"We have built a strong reputable image among the community of international electoral administrators, local democratic stakeholders, political parties and the general public. We are ready to defend this record during Elections 2008," he declared in Accra.

He therefore assured political parties contesting the December polls to have absolute confidence in the Commission and its ability to organize free, fair and transparent elections to ensure that the mandate of the people prevailed.

Mr Adeenze-Kanga was speaking during the presentation of the final certificate of registration of a political party to the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), whose motto is, "Youth in Science and Development."

The electoral laws require individuals who intend to form a political party to furnish the EC with a copy of its Constitution and the names and addresses of its national officers.

The party's name, emblem, colour, motto or any other symbol should have no ethnic, regional, religious or other sectional connotation or give the appearance that its activities are confined only to a part of Ghana. The party is to establish branches in all regions of Ghana, and organize in not less than two-thirds of the districts in each region. The Deputy Chairman urged the interim leadership of the party to organize their operations in accordance with the 1992 Constitution, the Political Parties Law (Act 574) and the general rules and regulations governing politicking in the country.

He said political parties were under obligation to shape the political will of the people, disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character, and sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than the district assemblies or local government units.

Mr Kwadwo Sarfo-Kantanka, EC Deputy Chairman in- Charge of Operations, stressed that formation of a political party is a serous business and warned that if they had formed the party "in an election year for selfish interests then they would be disappointed". He said they should work hard not to join the discarded band of political parties who were on perpetual "political holiday". Mr Ebenezer Aggrey Fynn, a member of the Commission, together with the two deputies, jointly presented the final certificate to Mr Kwabena Agyei, RPD Interim Chairman and Founder, Mr K. Manu Sarpong, Interim General Secretary and Mr Yamoah Ponko, Interim Operations Officer.