Political parties must publish party accounts-NACAP

Ho, March 01, GNA - Madam Florence Dennis, a Working Group Member of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), has said there was the need for political parties to publish their accounts as demanded by law. She said this would enhance transparency and guard against the use of government resources for political activities by incumbent parties. Madam Dennis said this in Ho at a regional consultative workshop on the development of Ghana's National Anti-Corruption Action Plan. The workshop was organized by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Madam Dennis said a survey conducted by Transparency International in 2009 showed that 31 per cent of Ghanaians considered political parties as extremely corrupt and said it was time political parties cleared these perceptions.

Mr Joseph Whittal, Director, Legal and Investigations at CHRAJ, said political and social factors had weakened efforts at combating corruption i= n political activities. "We are faced with situations where people want to win and stay in power, so they willingly pay for support, buy votes, rig elections and abus= e incumbency," he said.

"We are also faced with challenges with entrenched social relatio= ns and networks of patrons and clients found in political parties and government institutions, who put undue pressure on our political leaders to engage in corrupt practices," Mr Whittal added. He said the growing phenomenon of payment of high filing fees by aspirants to political parties was deepening the country's corruption woe= s.

Mr Whittal said the demand by political parties for political appointees to make financial contributions to party coffers was also shattering the country's hope of ending political corruption and called o= n politicians to demonstrate strong political will to help curb corruption in the country.