Political parties call for state funding

Representatives of three political parties at a symposium on political parties "and national cohesion" in Accra on Tuesday were unanimous on the need for the state funding of political parties to facilitate vibrant democratic culture.

Dr. Nii Josiah Aryeh, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Gabriel Pwamang, General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Mr.Kwadjo Afari, Press Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) agreed that national cohesion would only be possible if the various political parties were equipped to discharge their functions effectively.

They however, disagreed on the modalities of funding the parties at the symposium, which the Institute of Adult Education (IAE) of the University of Ghana, Legon organised as part of the 54th Annual New year school underway at the University.

The school is on the theme: "Peace stability and national development" Dr. Aryeh said, the numerous conflicts in Africa were due to the failure of democracy since a wider platform was not provided for people to express dissenting views.

A well-structured political state would avoid the dominance of one political party, check unnecessary antagonism and steer the debate on national issues in a democratic culture that called for tolerant, objectivity and balance.

Dr. Aryeh said the Dagbon crisis should be a good opportunity for political parties to forge a unity of purpose to avoid a national conflict. "National needs should override our parochial interest so that Ghana remains the Oasis of peace in Africa".

He said he would have discussion with Professor John Evans Atta Mills the flag bearer of the NDC to make the Dagbon crisis a serious national issue to get to the bottom of the problem.

Mr. Pwamang said though differences might exist among political parties their activities ought to focus on national cohesion. He said ruling parties should not see opposition political parties as dissidents just because they shared divergent views.

Mr.Pwamang said government must respect the fact that opposition parties were stakeholders in the governance of the country, especially when there were policy issues that would have long-term effect on the people.

He said political patronage, corruption and blind party loyalty that seemed to characterise the activities of political parties made those in opposition to limit their contribution to winning political power.

Mr. Kwadjo Afari on his part said politics in Ghana was being reduced to parochial interest when the essence of political parties was to promote manifestos, ideologies and programmes that should promote national interest.

"We do not have political parties in the true sense of the word in Ghana; some people join political parties just to lobby for contacts or pursue their personal agenda," he said.

The Rev. Dr.Mensa Otabil Chancellor of the Central University College, who chaired the symposium called on political parties to pull ideas and put mechanisms in place to address pressing national issues like the Dagbon crisis,

"Instability is eating into the fabric of the country, the intolerance situation in the country can be used to fuel conflicts, the signs are written on the wall and we cannot joke with the situation any longer," he said.

During an open forum participants identified the Dagbon crisis as a "time bomb" and called on the political parties to be proactive to nib it in the bud.