Only three parties have operational regional offices in V/R

Ho, Aug 15, GNA - Only three of the about eight registered political parties in Ghana have operational regional offices in the Volta Region, a GNA survey has revealed.

They are the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP).

The rest have either abandoned their offices, converted them into other uses or were searching for one. Article 55 Clause (7) b. of the constitution requires that every political "party has branches in all the regions of Ghana and is, in addition, organized in not less than two-thirds of the districts in each region".

Mr Dogbe Selormey, Deputy Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency that the trend was for the parties to be active only when the EC was carrying out an exercise. He said during the EC's last inspection exercise in 2006 the People's National Convention (PNC) was operating from offices at Agortime-Kpetoe, near Ho and capital of the Adaklu-Anyigbe District. Mr Dogbe said during the recent Regional Congress of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) attended by Mr Dan Lartey, its leader, officials of the party told the EC that they were looking for a place to use as party regional headquarters and would notify the Regional EC when found.

At the CPP offices Mr Albert T. K. Klu, Regional Administrative Officer, said its regional office had remained opened but conceded that many of their constituency offices had had to close because of inability to pay rents.

Mr Klu, 82, said despite the failure of the party machinery to pay their allowances he was committed to keeping the party machinery working because of his commitment to the cause of the CPP.

"When Kwame Nkrumah got out from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) shouting independence now, I shouted with him," he said. At the NPP offices Mr Charles Kofi Gadotor, Regional Administrative Officer, said the regional office was active with a regularly paid staff of five.

Miss Mary Ayebi, secretary, who has worked with the NDC for the past six years, said the party's well-equipped offices were opened regularly.

Mr Manfred Nuku-Dei, Regional Secretary of Democratic Freedom Party, said the party had acquired a building it was refurbishing to use as its office from the middle of September. He said for now the party, which is active in the region, operated from a makeshift office. 15 Aug 07