CDD urges parties to remain faithful to democratic principles

Accra, April 22, GNA- The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) under the auspices of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), on Tuesday urged all political parties to remain faithful to democratic principles and ensure that their constitutions were in consonance with the provisions of 1992 Constitution and the Political Parties Act. They should also elaborate their internal rules and guidelines well ahead of the primaries to avoid the making of retroactive and ad hoc rules. "Doing so will help the parties to reduce the incidence of frustration and anger among party followers," CODEO said in a statement signed by Mr Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe, Chairman of the CODEO Advisory Council.

The CODEO noted that political parties, for example, were unable to make up their mind about whether to open the nomination to all qualified aspirants or to restrict entry. The statement cited reports which indicated acrimonious relationships between party supporters and their executives. "Some of them provoked protests and demonstrations against the local party hierarchy and threats to defect from the party. Instances of executive refusal to provide nomination forms to aspirants and irregular arrangements for receipt of nomination forms were also reported." The statement also cited alleged unfair vetting processes leading to disqualification of some aspirants in some constituencies in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions.

"Incumbents were reported to have directly or indirectly applied rough tactics in candidate selection processes in Ablekumah North (Greater Accra Region) and New Juabeng North (Eastern Region)." The CODEO said although the primaries had been generally peaceful, there had been instances in some constituencies characterized with intra-party wrangling and discontent. There were demonstrations, intimidation of aspirants by some party factions, and high-handedness of party executives regarding who qualifies to represent the party.

The statement said the primaries of NPP and NDC had been more competitive than the other parties.

On the parliamentary candidature of women, the statement noted that women incumbent MPs retained the slot to contest the election in some constituencies including Weija, North Dayi and Savelugu. "But on the whole, the participation of women and persons with disability has been weak and unimpressive in the party primaries. "CODEO deeply regrets that the parties have not done much to promote the participation of women and persons with disability in the ongoing primary contests, and strongly urges the political parties to rectify this omission in the subsequent primaries," the statement said.