The National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, says the party’s Members of Parliament have stopped providing financial support for the running of the party’s activities.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the monthly financial support from its Members of Parliament ceased since February 2015.The statement however failed to explain why the monthly financial support from the MPs has stopped.
The pronouncement is fueling reports that the opposition party seems to be facing some financial difficulties compelling the party’s chairman to express his frustration in the statement signed by his spokesperson, Nana Yaw Osei.
The National Chairman of the NPP however assured the rank and file of the party that any act of corruption and financial malfeasance at all levels would be drastically dealt with.
Below is the full statement
PARTY LEADERSHIP TO DEAL WITH ACTS OF CORRUPTION
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Paul A. Afoko, is assuring the rank and file of the party across the country that the leadership of the party will deal with any acts of corruption and other financial malfeasance that come up at all levels of the party.
This is the only way to ensure that monies belonging to the party and entrusted in the hands of those whose responsibility it is to perform certain functions for and on behalf of the party do not squander such resources.
Any party member who embezzles party money and/or misuses resources belonging to the party for his/her personal interest must be seen as an enemy to the party’s chances to the 2016 general elections. Such a person(s), if found out, will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Mr. Afoko is confident that the fight against perceived corruption within the party at all levels of the party structure is enough demonstration of the party’s commitment to fighting corruption within the Ghanaian society when Ghanaians entrust the management of the country’s economy into the hands of the party’s flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and a team of competent persons he will pick to help him in running of the affairs of the State of Ghana.
We have a flagbearer who is incorruptible, and it is the expectation of the National Chairman that all party members, especially office holders at all levels, will emulate the incorruptible nature of our flagbearer by applying resources of the party judiciously with the view to improving the party’s chances of winning the 2016 general elections.
The leadership of the Party will ensure that resources meant for operational activities at the constituency and polling station levels will be sent straight to the officers there to ensure that they achieve the purpose for which they were sent there.
This explains why the leadership of the party transferred directly into each constituency’s bank account an amount of GH¢10,000.00 being part of the constituencies’ share of the monies raised from the nomination and filing fees of the recently held parliamentary primaries. The money was for the organization of the parliamentary primaries in each constituency.
The National Council of the party agreed on a formula for the sharing of the monies raised for the parliamentary primaries. Under the formula, 40% of the total amount of money raised would shared be equally among the 275 constituencies, 20% to the regional offices of the party and the remaining 40% would remain at the party’s national office. The constituencies’ 40% would be disbursed in three tranches. The GH¢10,000.00 released to the constituencies was the first tranche.
The next phase of the disbursement which will also hit the bank accounts of constituencies directly will be for what is called “higher visibility project of the party.’’
Under this project, the constituencies will be expected to use part of the money to make the party visible in the constituencies by painting party offices, where necessary, and splashing the constituency with party posters and banners as well as other publicity materials.
Part of the money is also expected to be used to finance activities like attending funerals, weddings, naming ceremonies and other social activities to which the party has been invited. Financing of such activities has always been the burden of the party officers at all levels.
Party officers at all levels must therefore endeavor to ensure that these monies are put to good use.
Meanwhile, the monthly financial support from the party’s Members of Parliament has ceased since February 2015.
Thank you.
Nana Yaw Osei,
Spokesperson for the National Chairman, NPP
