Modify Political Parties Act To Keep Fraudsters Out - Kofi Abokyi
Allegations of human trafficking and fraud against the founder and leader of the New Vision Party (NVP), Prophet Daniel Nkansah, have raised questions as to whether the Electoral Commission’s (EC) mandate should be enhanced to effectively police political party activity, but the EC Chairman thinks otherwise.
Prophet Daniel Nkansah was alleged to have collected various monies from some people under the guise of helping them to travel as party delegates to the United States of America (USA) and Europe.
The victims were expected to travel abroad on the ticket of the NVP supposedly as members of the party.
According to Mr Kofi Abokyi, a law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, “the Constitution and the Political Parties Act should be modified to keep potential fraudsters from abusing the system.
The Electoral Commission should be sufficiently equipped and constitutionally mandated to close down a political party if it discovers such abuses.
The lesson we can draw from the Nkansah-case is that the EC needs a more robust mandate,” he said.
Mr James Belieb Marshall, a legal practitioner from Kumasi, for his part explained it’s too far-fetched to ask the EC to know the intentions of prophet Nkansah, even if the allegations were proved true.
“The EC isn’t and shouldn’t be an investigative body. That’s the police’s job. If anything, the Nkansah-situation underscores the need to resource the police and other investigative bodies to do their job and digitalise their findings nationwide in an accessible database,” he said.
The Electoral Commission, being purely a regulatory body, has no means or mandate to thoroughly investigate or police the integrity of aspiring party founders.
Nor is it said to have the mandate to scrap a political party if the leader, seems to be abusing the system.
But Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the EC, thinks otherwise.
He told the Daily Graphic that the Commission saw no need in expanding his organisation’s mandate.
“The law already provides enough remedies for potential abuse. If you find a party misusing the system, you should file a complaint with the investigating bodies.
And when they, after investigating the case, alert us of any misconduct or misuse, we’ll look into the matter and if need be take the necessary action”.
A growing number of Kumasi residents are accusing prophet Daniel Nkansah, founder and leader of the New Vision Party, of alleged embezzlement.
About 30 Kumasi residents have come forward, claiming they were duped for a total amount of at least GH¢150, 000. They explained that they made the payments between February and April this year, but had no evidence as they gave the prophet cash.
The Daily Graphic contacted prophet Nkansah over the allegations and he emphatically dismissed the allegation, saying “he hasn’t taken anybody’s money”.
He explained that the alleged victims were regional and constituency party executive who donated the said amounts to the NVP.
“Some of them have asked to join the international tour to launch the party abroad. As we speak, preparations are ongoing. But if they’ve now decided against it, it’s between them and the party. I have nothing to do with it,” prophet Nkansah stated.
Meanwhile, the Kumasi-based alleged victims and the New Vision Party founder continue to quarrel over monies. Anita Addai said she’ll pursue every means possible to locate prophet Nkansah and have him apprehended.
She claimed she paid GH¢ 5,480 to be trafficked into the US by the founder of the NVP.
“Daniel Nkansah has never travelled outside Ghana, not even to Togo. All he does is roam the country, open party offices and dupe people like myself, who are desperate to go overseas. I paid GH¢ 4,800, and when I demanded my money, he threatened to take me to court for vilifying his name,” uttered an irritated Kwame Sarpong.
Juliana Asare borrowed an additional GH¢ 4, 000 to join the alleged international launch of the New Vision Party in North America and Europe.
The Kumasi-based trader and mother of three, said prophet Nkansah assured her she could be trafficked into the US via the launching tour of the NVP.
According to Ms Asare, “Prophet Nkansah would take us to America under the pretence of party members. He would arrange visas and jobs for us in New York City.
Once we arrived, we would be working and just every now and then appear at party events. Also, we were to donate US $ 200 monthly to the prophet for the services of taking us to the US”.
But Ms Asare changed her mind when the prophet changed the destination from the US to France and still later to Trinidad and Tobago.
She asked for her money. “Then he started playing hide and seek. To date, I haven’t been able to meet the prophet face to face.
He’s promised by this month’s end he would give me back GH¢ 4, 000 and keep the remaining GH¢ 2, 300 for administrative and insurance fees”.
She continued, “I trusted prophet Nkansah because he’s a man of God; moreover he has a way with words and can sweet-talk anyone into bankruptcy. My biggest concern is how to repay the loan I took”.
Edmond Manu was desperate to join his wife in the US. “Prophet Nkansah’s scheme sounded convincingly genuine. He’s well-spoken, well informed about Ghanaian politics and has well-founded criticisms about the previous and the current government. So I believed he could use the party as a cover and get me to my wife”.
Moreover, Mr Manu exclaimed, “the NVP is registered with the Electoral Commission, and the prophet is acquainted with the Asantehene. Who wouldn’t be convinced by such a person?” he asked rhetorically.
Despite an arrest warrant, the prophet hasn’t been apprehended yet. His party, which was approved by the Electoral Commission upon meeting the legal requirements, remains legitimate. Some of the requirements under Ghana’s Political Parties Act, is that any sound-minded Ghanaian taxpayer of 21 years or older, with no criminal past can start a political party.
From the look of things, the Kumasi residents won’t be getting their money back any time soon.
Yet, they remain keen and desperate to leave Ghana for greener pastures. “The fact that a child has drowned doesn’t mean one should stop drinking water,” Kwame Sarpong said