DPP files injunction against IEA

Accra, Dec. 12 GNA - The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) on Wednesday filed an interlocutory injunction at an Accra Fast Track High Court against the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and other four political parties from going ahead with the operations of the Dutch IMD - IEA programme for funding of political parties

In a motion supported by affidavit the DPP said the Dutch IMD - IEA programme funding violated section 24 of the Political Parties Law (PPL) Act 574 of 2000 and thereby introduced discrimination into the multi-party system thus destroying the level playing field component of the country's democracy.

Mr. Nuako Ward-Brew, Leader of DPP and Mr Gyebi Mensah Tettey of House No. 214, Nii Thomson Road West Adenta who jointly filed the motion are seeking an order from the court for the Defendants to refund the billions of cedis paid to them under the scheme as well as pay back all illegal monies spent on them in contravention of Section 25 of PPL Act 574 of 2000.

The Defendants include the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC, Peoples National Convention (PNC) and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).

They prayed the court to further sanction the Defendants if they failed to refund the billions of cedis paid to them by restraining them from taking part in future elections. They said the Respondents should be made to furnish the court with all records on the operations under the Dutch IMD -IEA funding scheme, especially records on monies paid and received by the four political parties.

The plaintiffs stated that, in spite of firm statutory provisions debarring foreign bodies from giving financial assistance directly or indirectly to political parties, the Dutch Non-governmental Organization (NGO) reached an agreement with the IEA, by which the four political parties were given extensive assistance in cash and kind to the detriment of other political parties. 12 Dec. 07