Audio By Carbonatix
A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Kwesi Jonah, has advocated for legislation to seal spending of political parties especially presidential candidates.
This would reduce political incumbency advantage as parties appropriate public resources to fund their political activities since their sources of funding are unknown and undisclosed.
He described the situation as a drawback to corruption fight with the existence of political party financiers, who seek to recoup financial investments made in political parties before, during and after electioneering campaigns.
He made the remarks at the eighth Annual Sandwich Conference organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Anthropology of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Thursday.
It was on the theme: "Paving the way for a peaceful, free and fair election 2020: The role of the state and non-state actors".
Mr Jonah said other laws on political party funding, sourcing and disbursement must be enforced rigorously as a way of helping improve on citizens’ understandings of electoral politics in the country.
Touching on some draw backs to Ghana's democratic gains, he condemned the practice of the ‘Winner Takes All’ system of governance in the country, saying "the continuity of such governance practice remained a threat to the country’s democracy as it will not help Ghana to get to the heights of its development.
Many Ghanaians have condemned the practice and called for an end to the system, so that positions would be given to deserving non-party members who can better promote the national interest.
The continuity of such governance practice, he observed, was a threat to the country’s democracy as it will not help Ghana to get to the heights of its development.
Mr Jonah also underscored the need to end the phenomenon of political party vigilantism for the practice to be tackled “boldly and sincerely”, noting the phenomenon poses a serious national security threat.
The activities of these groups, according to him, include the seizure of the management of public properties such as public toilets, toll booths among others when their parties were in power poses a serious threat to national security.
He called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure the rigid implementation of the country’s electoral laws so that only political parties that can satisfy those laws, will be made to exist.
According to him, the idea of building strong institutions was to have all the rules implemented.
On women empowerment, he stated that the legislative arm of Government had still not been able to reach the 30 percent mark set by the United Nations, as the proportion of women in Ghana’s parliament was still hovering around 10 per cent of the total membership of the House.
He said it was important to empower women to participate in the decision-making process so as to create a balance and charged women to stand-up for their personal values instead of following what others believed in even when it made them uncomfortable.
Speaking on current security issues confronting Ghana and its implications for ensuring a peaceful, free and fair elections in 2020, Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd), reiterated the need to tame vigilantism to safeguard national peace.
He told the security agencies especially the police to discharge their duties with integrity, professionalism, reliability and uprightness as imperative in establishing public confidence in the security agencies.
“I urge the security agencies to demonstrate integrity in the execution of your duty. I expect them to be outstanding and diligent in their work - Never ever compromise on your integrity and professionalism; for if you lose it, it will be difficult if not impossible to restore it,” he added.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Luv Fm High School Debate: KNUST SHS and Osei Adutwum SHS set up thrilling final after dramatic semi-finals
3 minutes -
KNUST AI Coordinator urges structured adoption of AI in teacher education
17 minutes -
Nepal rescuers blast hillside in search of hydropower workers as families wait anxiously
34 minutes -
Teachers who pass promotional exam to get January 2026 start date after gov’t resolves promotion dispute – Apaak
36 minutes -
NSMQ 2026: St. John’s School rally from slow start to book semi-final spot
37 minutes -
Promotion pay row: Gov’t gives teachers September to complete salary adjustments
48 minutes -
Financial irregularities plummet by 62.9% as state tightens fiscal controls
48 minutes -
DVLA to expand mobile services to underserved communities in Ghana’s Eastern Corridor of the Northern Region
1 hour -
GUTA urges GPHA to act swiftly to end Tema Port congestion to avert rising business costs
1 hour -
Port congestion could undermine 24-hour economy policy – GUTA
1 hour -
NSA opens three-day window to resolve national service biodata mismatches
1 hour -
Abu Jinapor highlights increased gold exports after Domestic Gold Purchase Programme
1 hour -
NPP UK branch calls for independent audit into gold purchasing operations and parliamentary probe
2 hours -
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings pledges decisive action on climate change, galamsey and environmental degradation
2 hours -
Bawumia was brainchild behind Domestic Gold Purchase Programme – Samuel Jinapor
2 hours