Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s GH¢4.6 million development fee for aspiring flagbearers, describing it as a “suicidal pathway” the party must avoid.
He made these remarks in a recent interview with the Daily Graphic.
“Moneycracy is not democracy, and a political party must not be seen to be pursuing that pathway, a bubonic plague on the party’s democratic process”, he stated.
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He labelled the fee unreasonable, warning that it could negatively affect both the party and the country’s democratic development.
The former Speaker said the 1992 Constitution emphasises that political parties must operate in line with democratic principles.
“All persons shall be equal before the law. A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, origin, creed or social or economic status.
“All persons shall be equal before the law. A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, origin, creed or social or economic status”, he noted.
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He noted that political party financing often plays a critical role in promoting corruption within governance and political systems.
“It is a truism that political party financing plays a cardinal role today in breeding corruption in the governance and political systems.
“The consequences are dire, and the future is gloomy. It cannot be further condoned,” he added.
Prof Oquaye also pointed out that corruption remains one of the main challenges hindering good governance in Ghana.
JKB/EB
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