Political parties urged to comply with laws on accounts - EC

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday reminded registered political parties in country that they have a statutory obligation to submit their audited accounts to the Commission.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra that all the 10 parties did not meet the June 30, 2003 deadline to submit their audited accounts as required by the Electoral Law.

"Even though, the Commission is empowered by law to withdraw the certificate of any party that fails to comply with the law, the EC is resorting to dialogue, sensitising and educating the parties to ensure compliance," he said.

Dr Afari-Gyan said a strict enforcement of the law could have jeopardised the country's evolving democracy, explaining that the Commission would dialogue with the parties through the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to elicit compliance.

"Imagine the implication of withdrawing the certificates of all the political parties in the country... It would create a constitutional crisis."

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 for 1999 only.

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."

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. Foreigners are not allowed to contribute financially to any political party.

It said any person or company that contravenes the constitutional provision on the 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.