'Parties must have functioning offices, file their accounts — EC to begin enforcement of Political Parties Act

The Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) mandates political parties to have offices at the national, and regional levels and at least in two-thirds of the districts in the country, which is most often overlooked by both the parties and the Electoral Commission.

To change the political dynamics and whip up the political parties to conform to the basic laws, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has rolled out an inspection timetable to physically inspect the premises of all registered political party offices across the country to ensure that they operate in accordance with the Political Parties Act.

As enshrined in the Political Parties Act 2000 (Act 574) the EC is undertaking the exercise to inspect political party offices and monitor their activities, EC letter addressed to the political parties a copy obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema has revealed.

“If the parties are functioning and if they meet the requirements by Act 574, which include the fact that they should have functioning offices, file their accounts at the EC, and whether their offices are owned by them or rented.

"Accordingly, the commission is embarking on the inspection of offices of all the registered Political Parties from Monday, May 16^th at the National, Regional, and District/Constituency level," the letter noted.

It further urged all political parties to ensure their availability to ensure the smooth operation of the exercise.

"In view of this, I wish to inform all registered political parties to hold themselves in readiness for the upcoming exercise," the EC stated.