General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, has confirmed reports that the NPP has for some years now failed to submit its audited report to the Electoral Commission as required by law.

Conceding that it was bad on the NPP to flout this directive, he disclosed that the audit reports are now ready and will handed over to the Electoral Commission anytime soon. He however explained that there were other factors which accounted for their failure to submit the financial reports.

Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance at the EC, Mr David Adenze Kanga on Monday said the EC will no longer accommodate political parties who play truant in submitting their financial reports.

Of the fourteen political parties in the country, the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) is the only political party that has submitted its audit report to the Electoral Commission (EC)

Mr Adenze Kanga says the EC is dialoguing with the parties for them to submit their reports or face action.

Speaking in an interview with Shamima Muslim on Citi FM’s Eye Witness News, Sir John claimed the NPP’s 2007 report had already been filed with the Electoral Commission, but admitted that it was left with filing its 2008, 2009 and 2010 audit reports.

“In 2008, we were engaged in a very serious electioneering period and certain expenditures were incurred between 2008, 2009 thereabout and therefore we had to be sure that we got all the receipts and all the documents very well… we wanted to take our time to ensure that nothing went missing and that everything had been captured…” he said.

According to the NPP Chief Scribe, the party could not afford to simply rush in submitting its financial report just to meet the deadline knowing very well that their account was not complete and up to date.

“…therefore we had to take our time and I think that the common sense approach is for a political party to be careful to submit a report that will not warrant any query and so having satisfied all of this we will submit the report …,” he added.

The Electoral Commission (EC) in the said publication warned rather sternly that if the audited reports of the finances of the political parties are not filed, their filing of presidential candidates for the next general elections will not be accepted.

In response, Sir John said: “…we have always religiously followed the rule and submitted our report timeously as compared to the other political party…and we assure the EC and everybody that this will not be repeated…,” he pledged.