We’ve not registered any party in 2016 – EC

EC boss Charlotte Osei

The Electoral Commission of Ghana has rubbished reports making rounds that it has registered a new political party ahead of the 2016 elections.

Reports have been rife that the electoral management body will be issuing a provisional license to the All People’s Congress (APC) belonging to Hassan Ayariga.

Ayariga defected from the People’s National Convention (PNC) over a month ago when he lost in his bid to lead the party in the 2016 elections.

The EC “wishes to inform the general public that, contrary to reports in the media, the Commission has not registered any political parties this year.”

“The Commission further wishes to clarify that persons who apply for registration of political parties have several requirements which must be met under the Political Parties Act 2000 (Act 574),” the EC said in a statement.

“Until these requirements have been met and a party has been issued with a final registration certificate, the party seeking registration cannot conduct its activities as a political party.

“The Commission is accordingly advising and reminding applicants that it is against the provisions of Act 574 to canvass for votes until the party has been issued with a final registration certificate.

“We trust that political actors and the general public will be guided accordingly,” the statement signed by the director of public affairs Christian Owusu-Parry stressed.

The Political Parties Act 2000 reads in part:

Method of registration of a political party.
8. (1) An application to register a political party shall be made to the Commission and shall be accompanied with

(a) a copy of the constitution and the rules or regulations, if any, of the political party duly signed by the interim national chairman or leader and by the interim national or general secretary of the party;
(b) the written names and addresses of its national officers;
(c) a full description of the identifying symbols, slogans, and colours, if any, of the political party;
(d) the registration fee specified in subsection (1) of section 4; and
(e) such other particulars as the Commission may reasonably require.
(2) The Commission shall, not later than seven days after the receipt of the application, issue to the political party a provisional certificate of registration and shall cause a notice of the application to be published in the Gazette after receipt, inviting objections from any person, concerning the name, aim, objects, constitution, rules, symbols, slogans and colours of the party.

Source: starrfmonline.com