Afari-Gyan speaks on incumbency advantage for ruling parties

Ho, July 4, GNA - Mr Kwadjo Afari-Gyan Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday observed that incumbency had over the years given ruling parties in Ghana immense resources, which rendered the political playing field uneven.

He said this was at the backdrop of a scenario of all the political parties being cash strapped and incapable of adequately performing their constitutional role as "a lifeline of democracy."

Speaking at the second in the series of the eight Regional Consultative Forums on the Funding of Political Parties and the Electoral Process in Ho, Dr Afari-Gyan said the problem of the parties, inability to muster adequate resources to operate effectively "must be a collective worry of us all and not a challenge to the individual parties alone". Dr Afari-Gyan said in the race to the Castle it seems as if "some play uphill while others play downhill".

Sixty participants, comprising representatives of Political Parties, Trades Unions, Security Organisations, Professional Organisations and Chiefs attended the forum, which was organised, by the Electoral Commission and KAB Consult an NGO, with funding from USAID. He said presently all the registered parties were not capable of maintaining offices and staff as required by law, let alone ensuring a meaningful monitoring of their own programmes or political activities. "They (political parties) are not on the ground most of the time. Beyond statements in the media, most of the time they do nothing", Mr Afari-Gyan stated.

He said some political parties were not resourced enough to monitor voters registration exercises on a daily basis and even appoint agents to polling stations but only wait to make unsubstantiated allegations about the padding of the register and impropriety after elections. He said some of the parties for lack of resources were unable to dialogue with the electorate during campaigning beyond whistle stops. "That type of shoddy campaigning, driving through the streets and making noise does not win elections," the Electoral Commissioner stated.

He said money could distort the choice of options available to the electorate explaining that the idea of some funding of political parties was to spread resources to ensure an equal playing ground. The Electoral Commissioner said when hard pressed, Parties could accept contributions from criminal interests to the detriment of the well-being of the people.

Dr. Afari-Gyan observed that views on the issue had been collated and passed on to government in the past but Cabinet then only said, "it was a good idea but not time yet". Observing that, "people who, a few years ago said not time yet, are saying it is time now," Dr Afari-Gyan said the problem must be looked at from the perspective of "what is good for the country and not present advantage". He said spreading resources would contribute to curbing corruption among Politicians who gave improper favours to their financiers in return for resources when in power.

Dr Afari-Gyan said public funding would also enhance access to political positions by those with the competency, but lacked the financial resources to support parties, and thereby reduce manipulation of appointments by party financiers. He said public funding of political parties might be a more beneficial support for the parties to achieve their goals than the edict for fair opportunities in the state media. Dr Afari-Gyan said that if the idea of public funding is accepted then the forums would have to suggest modalities including source of funding, basis for and proportions in which it would be distributed. He said financial resources alone was not enough to win elections stressing that, other factors such as quality, behaviour and posture of leadership as well as selections of candidates and messages mattered.

Dr Afari-Gyan however, added that though physical resources were not everything "the party that does not have it is handicapped". He said public funding of political parties should not mean the absorption of all the bills of the parties and that they, the parties would still have to find money for some of their operations. Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese who moderated said the peace prevailing in the country should not be taken for granted and that everybody should work for fair play in the political system.