The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Linda Ofori Kwafo has admonished Ghanaians to take keen interest in the discussion on political party funding in the country.
Madam Linda Ofori Kwafo made the remarks at the University of Professional Studies ( UPSA) in Accra on Wednesday 22nd March 2023.
Mrs Ofori Kwafo noted that funding of Political Parties have dominated major headlines in the country and is imperative stakeholders and civil society organisations assume responsibility and find pragmatic ways to curtail the canker.
She observed that in an era where there are proliferation of Political Parties demand proper and idle medium to nib the situation in the bud to check wantom corruption.
The GII further stated that, corruption still remain a major hurdle in the country and the only way the county can holistically deal with the menace is to have such forum to find practical methodologies to solve the issue.
She alluded to the situation where unscrupulous fundraisers manuver their way into politicians and end up inducing the ordinary masses which sometimes result in deceptive tendencies.
Madam Ofori Kwafo said Ghana often attracts global attention for the wrong reason especially on the transparency international corruption index where the country’s benchmark in the fight against corruption is low.
The event according to organisers is a non political forum with the aim to find lasting solutions to the subject of Political funding in the country.
Civil society organisations such as Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) , IDEG and several scholar academicians. Others includes CSO leaders.
In attendance was former President John Mahama, Professor Joshua Alabi, Professor Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang, Members of parliament, Members of diplomatic corps as well as students in academia plus political party representatives.
Madam Ofori Kwafo urge participants to develop interest in the discussion and offer dispassionate answers to the issue. She said the only way for the Nation to measure the level of cooperation in the stakeholder engagement as these is to have a noble knowledge sharing in forums like this to advance the debate.
On his part , the Director for IDEG Dr. Bright Akwetey said political parties must not see their members as poor but instead they should rather initiate a system to mobilize resources to run the affairs of Political Parties in the common interest for all and sundry. He noted campaign financing can improve in unassailable proportion if the right attitudes are deployed to undertake it.
Mr. Akwertey also spoke on the need of Political Parties to ensure laws governing the allocation of monies work perfectly to act as checks and balances to manage the situation.
He explain that the payment of dues in an idle manner by members of Political Parties and should be the drive and focus to stem the menace.
He finalize his presentation on the note that these laudable ideas must not only be engineered as part of the country’s electoral reforms but a conduit to streamline ancient problem which serves as a breeding ground of corruption.
A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Legon , Prof Ransford Gyampo equally posited that, political parties must begin to do self introspection about how they mobilize resources to persue their campaign financing and activities. He caution and call for pragmatic roadmap and national conversation to lead the agenda.
A doyen in local government Professor Kwamena Ahwoi similarly added his voice to the discussion and call for a sustainable and clean campaign to solve the problem during a brief documentary shown to the participants and invited guests at the forum.
Story by: Nana Dogbe / AhotorOnline.com
