EC Flags 17 Political Parties That Risk Losing Their Registration

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has flagged seventeen (17) political parties that risk losing their registration.

The parties include the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), United Front Party (UFP), United Development System Party (UDSP), Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE), Yes People’s Party (YPP), United Ghana Movement (UGM), and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).

The rests are New Vision Party (NVP), Ghana Democratic-Republican Party (GDRP) Ghana National Party (GNP), Power Unity Party (PUP), United Progressive Party (UPP), Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD), People’s Action Party (PAP), United Renaissance Party (URP), National Reform Party (NRP) and United Love Party (ULP).

According to the EC, the parties have failed to comply with Section 15 (1) of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).

It states that “Within ninety days after the issue to it of a final certificate of registration, a political party shall furnish the Commission with details of the existence and location of its national, regional, district and constituency offices”.

The EC says it conducted a nationwide inspection of the offices of registered parties and noticed that they do not have offices in the various regions, districts and constituencies.

“This exercise was conducted from the 16th of May to the 9th of June, 2022”, a notice from the EC.

“Following the nationwide inspection, it came to light that the under-listed Political Parties have no offices at the National and Regional levels as required by Section 15 (1) (Act 574).

“The Commission intends to invoke Section 15 (3) (c) of the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574, which mandates it to cancel the registration of Political Parties which do not have offices at the National and Regional levels”, the notice read.

The Commission has, therefore, instructed the parties to respond to why their registration shouldn’t be revoked.

This, the Commission said, must be done through a letter and delivered latest by October 2022.

Below Is The Full Notice From The EC:

THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT OF 2000, ACT 574- COMPLIANCE BY POLITICAL PARTIES

In a bid to ensure compliance with Section 22 (1) of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), the Electoral Commission undertook a nationwide exercise to inspect the offices of all registered political parties in Ghana. This exercise was conducted from the 16th of May to the 9th of June, 2022.
Following the nationwide inspection, it came to light that the under-listed Political Parties have no offices at the National and Regional levels as required by Section 15 (1) (Act 574).
The Commission intends to invoke Section 15 (3) (c) of the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574, which mandates it to cancel the registration of Political Parties which do not have offices at the National and Regional levels.
In this vein, the following Political Parties are by this notice requested to show cause in writing to the Electoral Commission why their registration should not be cancelled:

Democratic People’s Party (DPP)
United Front Party (UFP)
United Development System Party (UDSP)
Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE)
Yes People’s Party (YPP)
United Ghana Movement (UGM)
Democratic Freedom Party (DFP)
New Vision Party (NVP)
Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP)
Ghana National Party (GNP)
Power Unity Party (PUP)
United Progressive Party (UPP)
Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD)
People’s Action Party (PAP)
United Renaissance Party (URP)
National Reform Party (NRP)
United Love Party (ULP)

The responses should reach the Commission not later than Thursday, 20th October, 2022
Note: This Public Notice has become necessary due to the failure of the listed Political Parties to furnish the Electoral Commission with information on their locations.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini