GCPP Submits Audited Accounts to EC

The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on Monday submitted its audited accounts for the year ending December 31, 2000 to the Electoral Commission.

Mr Daniel Lartey, GCPP Presidential Candidate for the 2000 elections, said in an interview that it submitted the audited accounts late because of a technical problem in collating the accounts from its regional offices.

"As a party aspiring to form the next government in 2004, we will not in any way undermine democratic principles and laws."

The GCPP Presidential candidate reiterated his earlier position on the law, saying: "You demand accountability from the one you have funded. Without any support from the state it is morally incorrect for the Electoral Commission (EC) to compel the parties for an audited account."

The electoral law specifies that a political party shall within six months from December 31st of each year file with the EC returns 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," it said.

The electoral law also compels political parties to inform the EC about other sources of funding including contributions or donations in cash or kind, property and time of acquisition and audited accounts for the year.
These are constitutional and statutory provisions that the parties are required to meet and make available to the Commission for verification.