POLITICAL PARTIES MUST SET GOOD EXAMPLE (AUGUST 6, 2009)

ARTICLE 55 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees the right to form political parties and provides for the right of every citizen of Ghana of voting age to join a political party.
Indeed, political parties help in shaping the political will of the people and facilitate the growth of the democratic culture.
Just as the mere conduct of elections will not promote a functional democracy, the mere existence of a party will not bring about the enabling environment for democracy to thrive unless the parties are able build the structures for internal democracy within the framework of national legislation.
Therefore, the benchmarks of a functional democracy include active political parties, an independent electoral body, a level playing field for regular elections and independent Legislature and Judiciary.
Democracy is not on wheels only when the majority verdict prevails but also when the players in the political game play by the rules.
Article 55 Clause 14 states that “political parties shall be required by law — (a) to declare to the public their revenues and assets; and (b) to publish to the public annually their audited accounts”.
Sadly enough, six out of the seven political parties that contested the 2008 general election have not submitted their audited accounts for 2008 to the Electoral Commission (EC) as required by the Political Parties Law. Section 21 Subsection (1) of Act 574 (2000) requires political parties to submit audited accounts of a preceding year to the EC by June 30 of the following year.
Almost two months after the deadline, only the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) has complied with the law, raising questions as to whether those who seek our mandate to govern are themselves prepared to submit to the dictates of the law.
It is common knowledge that most of the political parties do not have functional offices in the districts and regions, contrary to the requirements under the law.
The EC has, time and again, issued warnings to the parties to comply with the law or face severe sanctions. Unfortunately, these directives have remained mere exhortations that have fallen on deaf ears.
The only time that the political parties have shown the desire to be law-abiding is during the election year when they know that the EC will not register their candidates if they do not meet the requirements under the law.
Mr T.N. Ward-Brew, the leader of the DPP, the only political party that has filed audited accounts with the EC this year, hit the nail right on the head when he said, “Political parties must set good example for Ghanaians and corporate entities to emulate.”
If political parties fail to comply with the Political Parties Law, then it will be difficult for them to demonstrate their respect for the rule of law when they are given the mandate to rule.
Let the EC send the right signals to all the political parties about its seriousness to regulate their operations, such that they will serve as a true vehicle to deepen the democratic process in the country.
To achieve this, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the EC to get tough on the political parties in order to compel them to traverse the “narrow path” that leads them to respect the law.
While we condemn the political parties for not rising up to the saying that “example is better than precept”, we also call on the EC to crack the whip on all defaulting political parties now if we are not to make a mockery of our democracy.