Electoral Commission Urged To Review Law On Political Parties

Koforidua, (Eastern Region) 3 Oct.,

Participants at a public form at Koforidua have called for the complete review of current political parties law (PNDC Law 281). Provisions of the law that were strongly rejected to include the one million-cedi ceiling which a member of a political party could contribute in a year, the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC) to proscribe a political party or refuse its registration and the declaration of assets and expenditure by political parties. The participants made the suggestions at a one-day forum organised by the EC at Koforidua yesterday, as part of its regional public hearings on the political parties law of 1992. In his contribution, Mr. Barima Yaw Osafo Kantanka, Deputy Easterb Region secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), referred to provisions of the law barring companies and aliens from contributing to funds of political parties and called for a review to allow the parties the free hand to generate funding instead of state funding as is being suggested by some parties. He expressed regret that contrary to the provisions of the law, many offices of some parties in the regions and districts are either deserted or are non-existent and urged the EC to ensure that the law was obeyed. The MP for Koforidua, Mr. Yaw Barima on behalf of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), suggested that certain powers of the EC should be subject to judicial review to allow an aggrieved party the right to challenge them in a court of appeal. He advocated state funding of political parties as exists in the ''most established democracies'' through a central fund to be administered by an independent body with contributions from the government, the citizens, corporate bodies, foreign governments and non-governmental organisations. Mr. Barima noted that under the current law, the opposition parties have no say in the composition of the EC, saying the situation where the President alone makes appointments without consultation with ''other players in the game, is wholly unsatisfactory, particularly when the neutrality of the commission leaves much to be desired''. He called for a provision that allows the EC to have its own legal outfit instead of relying on the Attorney-General's department. All the expenditure of the commission should be charged on the consolidated fund and its budgetary estimates be submitted directly to parliament for approval. Mr. Nanso Bia of the Peoples Convention Party (PCP) called for a review of the provision in the law which proscribed certain political parties and banned the use of their names, symbols and colour. Mr. T.N. Ward-Brew of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) suggested that the EC be empowered to organise common political platforms for all parties to address rallies during electioneering campaigns as done for candidates for district assembly elections. This would cut cost and create a level field for all parties. He suggested a provision in a new law for regulations on the formation of alliances to avoid acrimony and to promote strong democratic practice. Mr. Yaw Boateng, executive secretary of the Movement for the Conservation of Mining Environment, opposed any state funding of political parties, saying this would promote the formation of mushroom parties for the sake of obtaining state funds. In his remarks, the deputy chairman of the EC, Mr. D.A. Kanga, advised political parties wishing to enter into alliances to seek professional advice on negotiation skills to ensure mutually satisfying agreements.