The Deputy Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Bossman Asare, has urged political parties to avoid unnecessary spending on tracking vehicles transporting electoral materials nationwide.
He made the remarks during the Graphic National Development Series held in Accra on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Dr. Asare emphasized that political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), already have representatives in all regions who can oversee these materials efficiently.
He suggested that instead of following the vehicles physically, parties could rely on their constituency or regional representatives to receive detailed information about the materials, such as their serial numbers and quantities. This approach, he explained, would help political parties manage their resources more effectively.
“When constituency or regional representatives are adequately informed, political parties can ensure oversight without incurring extra costs,” Dr. Asare said.
In a humorous aside, Dr. Asare noted, “We spend extra money to ensure integrity,” highlighting the Electoral Commission’s commitment to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Dr. Asare also addressed the issue of political party funding, raising concerns about the lack of transparency in campaign budgets. He criticized some parties for either failing to disclose their financial sources or grossly underreporting their expenditures.
“It is unrealistic for a political party to declare only GH¢100,000 as its campaign budget when a single billboard costs a fortune,” he pointed out.
Dr. Asare urged political parties to adopt more transparent practices in disclosing their funding sources to promote accountability in the country’s democratic processes.
The Electoral Commission continues to call for collaborative efforts between all stakeholders to strengthen Ghana’s electoral system and ensure fair, credible elections.