NDC should declare sources of campaign funding -PPP

The Progressive People’s Party is not too surprised at recent events relating to allegation of corruption and foreign participation in our elections as it clearly vindicates the PPP’s flag bearer Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom’s stance on corruption in the country.

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), accusation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being financed by a Chinese company, Huawei is a clear act of violation of Ghana’s political party laws. The Political Parties Law, Act 574 is so explicit on who can fund a political party in Ghana. Section 23(1) of the Act states that, “only a citizen may contribute whether in cash or in kind to the fund of a political party. Whilst section 24 states that “A non-citizen shall not directly or indirectly make a contribution or donation or loan whether in cash or in kind to the funds held by or for the benefit of a political party and no political party or person acting for or on behalf of a political party shall demand or accept a contribution donation or loan from a non-citizen”.

So it clear that the flamboyance of the NDC campaign flags, flying everywhere in the country is the Ghanaian 127 million dollar tax payer's money which was awarded Huawei, a Chinese Telecommunications Company recently, now used to secretly fund various campaign activities of the NDC. And the saddest part of it is that the NDC has contracted Chinese companies in China to print their paraphernalia to the detriment of Ghanaian Companies. NDC’s propaganda secretary Richard Quarshiga’s public declaration that the NDC is printing campaign paraphernalia from China because they are ‘cheap’ clearly tells why Ghanaian companies are collapsing under the Mahama administration.

If the NDC are openly denying the allegations then for the sake of accountability and transparency the source of their campaign funding should be made public. There is high suspicion that the huge settlement debt and allegation of bribery and corruption are channelled into the NDC campaign and we in the PPP find these very worrying.

Once again, we wish to remind President Mahama NDC and Nana Akuffo-Addo of the NPP about the call made by the PPP’s Presidential Candidate Dr. Papa KwesiNduom for transparency and accountability. Dr. Nduom set the agenda for the 2012 campaign with the strong commitment for incorruptible leadership and competency. For the benefit of President Mahama and the NDC and Nana Akuffo Addo NPP, we reproduce the challenge thrown by Dr. Nduom: Make available to the public asset declarations, income tax returns, health records and sources of campaign funding before the December 7th elections.

The PPP is calling for an immediate probe which should be independent of government and of political coloration to probe into the matter and let Ghanaians know the truth of these foreign companies involvement in our elections in a couple of days.

The revelation by AFAG is clearly a wakeup call to the EC to come out with modalities on how it intends to enforce the Political Parties Act 574 Section 23(1) on the political parties.

We in the Progressive Peoples Party are determined to defend the sovereignty and independence of Ghana’s electoral process and if other parties continue to open up to foreign infiltration then our democracy is at risk. When such acts continue it influences the direction of the results of the elections placing the country at a much higher risk.

Ghanaians should stay AWAKE to fight the corrupt practice of the Mahama administration to save this country from losing its sovereign rights.

Alistair Nelson Spokesperson