Anti-corruption groups: political parties must campaign for only six months

Two anti-corruption campaigners say a maximum of six months is needed for political campaigns to tackle corruption associated with political funding.

They said long periods of campaign put huge financial burdens on political parties, making them vulnerable to corruption.

The two anti-corruption campaigners are; Mrs. Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director, Transparency International, Ghana, and Mr. Kwami Edem Senanu, Co-Chair, Citizen Movement against Corruption.

They made the call while contributing to a panel discussion at a national dialogue on “strengthening rule of law and combating corruption in Ghana”, organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Accra, on Tuesday.

It was on the theme: “Empowering Citizens, Promoting Accountability.”

Mrs. Addah said the current period of political campaigns was too long, which imposed huge financial burden on political parties and their candidates.

The situation, she explained, compelled the parties and candidates to seek financial support from any source, who in turn “wants to recoup” his or her “investments”, when the party assumed office.

Limiting the campaign period to at most six months, Mrs. Addah said such expenses would be eliminated and reduce the level of corruption, particularly among the political class.

“We want a campaign period that is reduced, drastically.

“I was in Denmark some time ago and within six months they had prosecuted their agenda, whatever you want to say to the people, you say it and then they vote, and they are done with it.  After one day of voting, everybody carries on with their lives. I believe we can do that, it’s not that far away,” Mrs. Addah emphasised.

She also called for a review and the strengthening of the Political Party Act to regulate political party financing in the country, stressing that would enhance transparency and reduce corruption.

“We want clarity, clarity in the sense that the Political Party Act as it stands does not allow a lot of things to happen.

“So some of the things we want to see are a regime where the candidates also disclose how much donations come to them,” she added.

Mr. Senanu, on his part, said when limited period on campaigns became a legal requirement, it must be enforced to the letter.

“If we limit the campaign season, we won’t give these people so much time and money so that when they come into power they have to collect it back from us. So, six months, June to December,” he said.

Mr. Senanu, who is also the Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) also called on the constitutional review committee to address the current political party financing gap, to ensure transparency in campaign financing.

Professor Justice Bawole, former Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, stressed the need for Ghanaians to be patient with anti-corruption institutions, explaining that to win the fight against corruption requires consistency and patience.

While calling for training for public and civil servants on ethics, Prof Bawole also urged the state to institute a system that rewarded good behaviours to serve as a motivation.

Mr Victor K. Brobbey, Deputy Chairman, General Services, NCCE, called for the rebuilding of citizens’ conscience, explaining that without a renewed sense of integrity, moral leadership and justice, the corruption fight could not be won.

Mr. Kwaku Lartey Obeng, the Component Manager, Strengthening Anti-Corruption Actors, Participation; Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy programme (PAIReD) at GIZ, urged civil society organisations to continue to demand for policy change and advocate for accountability, stressing that their role in eradicating corruption was crucial.

The national dialogue, an initiative under the PAIReD programme, sought to promote good governance and foster accountability.

It was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union and Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by GIZ and the Ministry of Finance.

By Benjamin A. Commey

GNA

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