AFAG: NDC Being Sponsored By Huawei

Pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has alleged that a Chinese telecommunications company, Huawei, is sponsoring some party paraphernalia of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to AFAG, documents in its possession show that the gesture is in return of a contract the government awarded to the company in December, 2011.

The contract, according AFAG, was to provide communication solutions for the country’s e-governance project.

A statement issued by the group said the act contravened Act 574 of the constitution which defines the terms of party funding in the country.

Section 23(1) of the Act states that, “only a citizen may contribute whether in cash or in kind to the fund of a political party. Whilst section 24 states that “A non-citizen shall not directly or indirectly make a contribution or donation or loan whether in cash or in kind to the funds held by or for the benefit of a political party and no political party or person acting for or on behalf of a political party shall demand or accept a contribution donation or loan from a non-citizen”.

It said “Huawei has been printing campaign paraphernalia (T-shirts, cups, key holders etc.) worth millions of dollars for the NDC. It has to be said even after the death of president Mills, President John Mahama continuously enjoy this facility”.

It further accused the company of having sponsored air trips of some Government officials and their family in return for “dubious” favours from the government.

The group expressed shock at the situation, asking the party to come out on the details of the contract.

The statement called for immediate deportation of officials of Huawei for the violation of the political party law and for the Electoral Commission to publish the annual report of the NDC to ascertain whether these donations had ever been reported.

But in a sharp response, the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Mr Richard Quashigah told Accra based Joy FM that the accusations were baseless.

According to him, such a deal between the NDC and Huawei to print party paraphernalia had not come to his attention as a party official and thus was unable to confirm the story.

He accused the AFAG of being an appendage of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) which was only interested in causing disaffection for the ruling party.

Mr Quashigah said the group did not worth the party’s attention because they lacked credibility.

He asked the general public to treat the accusations with contempt because they were not true.

AFAG said it would proceed to the police to formally lodge a complaint for further investigations into the act.

This article also appeared in print on Wednesday October 17, 2012 edition of Daily Graphic