The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a policy think-tank, is hosting a 15 member delegation of political parties from some African countries to share knowledge and experiences with their Ghanaian counterparts on inter-party dialogue.

The delegation, mostly political leaders from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya will also have the opportunity to visit the offices of some of the political parties in the country, as well as interact with some senior statesmen during their three day visit to Accra.

Mrs Jean Mesnsah, the Executive Director, IEA Ghana, in her welcome address, said multi-party democracy cannot thrive anywhere in the world without inter-party dialogue.

She said the IEA, through its Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) has made progress in the area of inter-party dialogue, leading to the sustenance of Ghana’s democracy and preventing relapse even during difficult and politically turbulent times.

“Since Ghana returned to constitutional rule and multi party democracy after adoption of its fourth republican constitution, our nation has made some strides towards strengthening and consolidating our democracy through interparty dialogue,” she said.

Mrs Mensah also shared some of the achievements of the GPPP with the visiting delegation, which include the initiation of a process to undertake extensive audit of Ghana’s electoral system, drafting of the Presidential Transition Act and other bills, such as the Political Parties Funding Bill and the Revised Political Parties Bill.

She said the review of the 1992 constitution was also based on proposals, which were put forward by the GPPP.

She said the achievement by the Institute, with regards to the GPPP, demonstrates the important role that political parties, dialoguing and acting together, can play in the development and consolidation of democracy.

“Also the value of political party leaders interacting in a cordial but competitive atmosphere cannot be overstated in the efforts to foster peace and national cohesion,” she said.

She expressed the hope that the forum would help kick-start the process towards effective interparty dialogue among the political party leaders, especially in Zimbabwe.

Nana Ohene Ntow, the former General Secretary of New Patriotic Party, commended the IEA for providing the platform for multi party democracy to thrive.

He said multi-party system is a mutual benefit of all stakeholders, which required the commitment to the idea of collaboration, and political leaders should not allow their interest to stand in the way of society.

Oppah Munchinguri, the leader of the Zimbabwean delegation, said there is currently an informal inter-party engagement in Zimbabwe and expressed the hope that it would be formalised as being done in Ghana.

Mr Egbert Pros of the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy, said inter-party dialogue is associated with accommodation, debate, negotiation and compromise.