The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in fulfillment of the Political Parties Act (Act 574), has submitted its audited financial accounts for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to the Electoral Commission (EC) at a short ceremony in Accra.
Led by Mr Johnson Asiedu NKetiah, the General Secretary, Ms Vida Addae, the Deputy National Treasurer and Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofu, the Director of Elections, the NDC team presented the financial statement to Mr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, the EC’s Director of Finance.
The Political Parties Act 574 (section 21) states that political parties shall, within six months from December 31 of each year, file with the Commission: a return in the form specified by the Commission indicating – the state of its accounts, the sources of its funds, membership dues paid and contributions or dominations in cash or kind.
Other requirements are; the properties of the party and time of acquisition, such other particulars as the Commission may reasonably require, and audited accounts of the party for the year.
Mr Ofosu Ampofu told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday that the party appealed to the EC for dispensation for late submission because “at the time for submitting, our General Secretary, who is by our constitution mandated to sign the document, was out of the country. The EC granted us the dispensation”.
He said as ruling party, “we are committed to strengthening the pillars of our democratic foundation and will continue to adhere to the Political Parties Act, as well as work with both democratic and governance bodies to ensure that Ghana continues to set electoral standards in Africa”.
Mr Ofosu Ampofu noted that the NDC is a law abiding political party and would be the last to undermine the integrity of the electoral system or flout the laws of the country.
“We will continue to work for peaceful, transparent, free and fair elections. President John Dramani Mahama and the entire leadership of the NDC are committed towards protecting the country,” he said.
Mr Asamoah, who received the document, commended the NDC for submitting its audited accounts.
In April the Commission issued a May 31 deadline for all parties to submit the account for scrutiny in keeping with the Political Parties Law, Act 574, or be visited with sanctions.
Parties who have already submitted their audited accounts are: the Convention People’s Party, the National Democratic Party, the Democratic People’s Party, the Great Consolidated Popular Party, the Independent People’s Party, Progressive People’s Party, and the United Front Party.
The EC, among other things, requires political parties to furnish it with details of the existence and location of their national, regional, district, and constituency offices.
Credit: Radio Univers/105.7MHz