The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana have listed 17 political parties at risk of having their registrations revoked due to the lack of a regional or national presence.
The EC have however given the parties up to Thursday, October 20, 2022 to show proof why their registrations should not be cancelled under the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574.
This initiative comes after the EC undertook a general inspection of all registered political parties in Ghana. This exercise was conducted from May 16, 2022 to June 9, 2022.
In a notice the EC indicated that the mentioned parties have no offices at both 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,” it added in the notice published on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
These listed parties include the United Progressive Party (UPP) formed and led by Kumasi-based Akwasi Addae, popularly known as Odike.
Another one on the list is the United Front Party (UFP), which was also formed by Akwasi Addai Odike and Nana Agyenim Boateng popularly known as Gyataba but following disagreements, Odike moved out or was moved out to form a new party, the UPP.
Also on the list is the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), formed by Dr Obed Yao Asamoah and some other members from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who were unhappy with some developments in the NDC and therefore moved away to form the DFP after the 2005 national executive elections in the party.
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The Reform Patriotic Democrats, originally led by Kofi Akaploo, who has also moved to lead a new party, Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) is also on the list.
The parties are;
1. Democratic People's Party (DPP)
2. United Front Party (UFP)
3. United Development System Party (UDSP)
4. Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE)
5. Yes People's Party (YPP)
6. United Ghana Movement (UGM)
7. Democratic Freedom Party (DFP)
8. New Vision Party (NVP)
9. Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP)
10. Ghana National Party (GNP)
11. Power Unity Party (PUP)
12. United Progressive Party (UPP)
13. Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD)
14. People's Action Party (PAP)
15. United Renaissance Party (URP)
16. National Reform Party (NRP)
17. United Love Party (ULP)
Below is a copy of the EC’s full notice
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:
1. Democratic People's Party (DPP)
2. United Front Party (UFP)
3. United Development System
Party (UDSP)
4. Every Ghanaian Living
Everywhere (EGLE)
5. Yes People's Party (YPP)
6. United Ghana Movement (UGM)
7. Democratic Freedom Party (DFP)
8. New Vision Party (NVP)
9. Ghana Democratic Republican
Party (GDRP)
10. Ghana National Party (GNP)
11. Power Unity Party (PUP)
12. United Progressive Party (UPP)
13. Reform Patriotic Democrats
(RPD)
14. People's Action Party (PAP)
15. United Renaissance Party (URP)
16. National Reform Party (NRP)
17. 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.