The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul Awentami Afoko, has given the strongest indication that the party’s leadership will deal with any acts of corruption and other financial malfeasances 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,” he stated.
The National Chairman said in a press statement that, any party member who embezzles party money and/or misuses resources belonging to the party for his/her personal interest must be seen as being opposed to the party’s victory in the 2016 general election.
Such a person, if found out, will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The statement was signed by Nana Yaw Osei, his spokesperson.
Mr Afoko, the statement pointed out, was confident that the fight against perceived corruption within the party at all levels of the party structure was 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 flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the team of competent persons that he would pick to help him in the running of affairs of Ghana.
“We have a flag bearer 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 flag bearer by applying resources of the party judiciously with the view to improving the party’s chances of winning the 2016 general election,” the statement added.
It stated that the leadership of the party would ensure that resources meant for operational activities at the constituency and polling station levels would be sent straight to the officers there to ensure that they achieved 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 organisation of the parliamentary primaries in each constituency.
According to the statement, 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 be shared 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 endeavour 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.
