DPP, GCPP boycott Code of Conduct for parties

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The Democratic People's Party and the Great Consolidated Popular Party have boycotted the launch of a Code of Conduct developed by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to regulate the conduct of political parties contesting Election 2008.

The two parties accuse the IEA of double standards.

They asked why the Institute involved them in the formulation and launch of the Code while excluding them from its encounters with presidential aspirants on the basis that they do not have representation in Parliament.

The General Secretary of the DPP, Mohammed Sulemana told Joy News that although it would abide by the code it had major difficulties with the IEA accusing it of being selective.

The code focuses on the democratic imperatives, campaigning procedure, out-of-campaign activities, elections, enforcement and implementation guidelines and seeks to direct political activities to ensure decorum before, during and after the December polls.

While parties like the NPP and the NDC have lauded the code and promised to go by it, GCPP presidential candidate, Mr. Dan Lartey, told Joy news, he is yet to fathom the essence and activities of IEA in the country.

Mr. Lartey said the IEA was “confused”, and accused it of being a “security threat” to the nation.

However, the Coordinator of Policy Analysis Unit of the IEA, Papa Kow Acquaye debunked the allegations.

He explained that the IEA has its own criteria for participation, and said the recent encounters with the presidential candidates, organized in collaboration with Joy FM and GBC, was meant for only parties with membership in Parliament.

He said, the institute does invite most of the political parties when it organizes workshops, symposiums and retreats among others.