Tamale, July 11, GNA - Mr Charles Bintin, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, has appealed to Ghanaians to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the funding of political parties by the state in a dispassionate manner and take into account the country's economy. Mr Bintin was speaking at a day's "Regional Consultative Forum on Funding of Political Parties" in Tamale organized by the Electoral Commission (EC).

He said people should be mindful of political conflicts in the regions during their discussions so that a lasting solution could be found to such conflicts to nurture "our young democracy to grow." The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the forum organised by KAB Governance Consult, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Representatives of political parties, NGOs, chiefs, assembly members, trade unionists and workers attended the forum. Mr Bintin said the government was sensitive to public opinion and would pay serious attention to the outcome of such discussions to push the country forward.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, said most political parties were not on the ground because of inadequate resources.

"Some of them are unable to get involved in the electoral process and, therefore, tended to make allegations about the results of elections."

He said inadequate resources had contributed to the shoddy campaigns by political parties since they were unable to interact fully with the electorate to win their confidence.

Dr Afari-Gyan suggested that for democracy to be vibrant the state needed to support political parties but said such funding should not cover all their bills.

Some participants suggested that two per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be put aside to fund political parties to ensure a stable political environment.

They said lack of political stability was eroding the socio-economic gains of most African countries and appealed to the Electoral Commission to plug all loopholes in the laws governing the electoral process and to encourage political party members to pay their dues.

Others were of the opinion that the state should not fund political parties and mentioned the problems the government was grappling with in the health, agriculture and education sectors. They said the global economy was not in favour of Third World countries like Ghana and that the government would be " biting more than it can chew" if it opted for the funding of political parties by the State.

They suggested that the government should resource the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education and other state institutions to educate the electorate on their electoral rights to enhance transparency at elections.

Representatives of three political parties that attended the forum agreed to State funding of political parties but suggested different approaches.

Articulating the stand of the National Democratic Congress on the issue, Alhaji Abdulai Haruna, Northern Regional Secretary of the Party, suggested the creation of a Political Party Fund that should be backed by an Act of Parliament.

He said representatives of all registered political parties and some distinguished Ghanaians should administer and disburse the fund. The Regional Secretary of New Patriotic Party, Mr Abukari Sadik was of the view that the NCCE and the Electoral Commission should be supported to educate the electorate on electoral laws.

Mr Iddrisu Andani Mu-Azu, Choggu Constituency Secretary of the Peoples' National Convention, said State support for the political parties should not be in cash but logistics to avoid corruption and diversion of such monies into individuals' pockets.