A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante has said that the Electoral Commission (EC) has not been active in ensuring that the political parties in Ghana comply with the law that requires them to declare their sources of funding.
He indicated that the elections management body only tried to ensure that this was done last year but generally, it has been ineffective in getting it done to the letter.
The Political Parties Act demands that parties should declare their sources of funding to the EC.
The Act says “Only a citizen may contribute in cash or in kind to the funds of a political party. A firm, partnership, or enterprise owned by a citizen or a company registered under the laws of the Republic at least seventy-five percent of whose capital is owned by a citizen is for the purposes of this Act a citizen.
“A non-citizen shall not directly or indirectly make a contribution or donation or loan whether in cash or in kind to the funds held by or for the benefit of a political party and no political party or person acting for or on behalf of a political party shall demand or accept a contribution donation or loan from a non-citizen.”
But speaking on the Hot Edition on 3FM Wednesday, July 19, Dr Asah-Asante said “Apart from last year when we saw some skirmishes that the Electoral Commission did say that they were going to apply the law to the letter as it were but over the years the electoral commission has been ineffective as far as the implementation of that law is concerned.
“They have not supervised it, and they have not enforced it, people have been allowed to do anything and that has given rise to all the things we are talking about.”
His comments come at a time a Nigerian journalist David Humdeyin has claimed that an Islamic group based in Nigeria is funding the campaign of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a claim the camp of Dr Bawumia has dismissed.
David Humdeyin had alleged that Dr Bawumia’s campaign is being funded by the Islamic group ACF.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Bawumia Campaign has no funding or any linkage with any Islamic group in Nigeria or anywhere else,” the Vice President’s campaign team stressed on Wednesday, July 19.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Communication Directorate.
The statement accused David Humdeyin of making similar claims about some persons and groups in Nigeria without any basis.
Therefore, the campaign team of Dr Bawumia says it will not be distracted by the “obviously false” and “fabricated” claims which “only serves the propaganda purposes of its promoters”.
“The Bawumia Campaign is focused and will not be distracted by such vain untruths.
“The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been very diligent and transparent from his days as a scholar, banker, and politician throughout his life and will not depart from these now and forever.”
The Vice President is currently in the Ashanti Region on the second leg of his campaign tour.