Aseidu Nketia
An anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem, is on the throat of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to come public and properly explain how it is funding the construction of its new party headquarters in Adabraka, Accra.
The source of the party’s funding for the building which has been valued at US$20 million by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) gained public prominence last week.
Various executives of the NDC had contradicted themselves in explaining the source of funding with the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, indicating that the NDC owes no one explanation for putting up the building.
But the executive director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mr. Azeem, said refusal by the NDC to properly explain issues relating to the building could cement perceptions that the money for the structure was wrongly sourced.
He told Citi News Ghanaians have the right to demand how funds were acquired for the building.
“It is not out of place because our Constitution requires that political parties file returns with the Electoral Commission indicating the income they get and their expenditures,” Mr. Azeem said.
“In fact, it goes further to require that they publish their audited reports. If they can come out and say nobody has the right to ask them to explain, it could give us the impression that the monies were not had legally otherwise why would [they] be afraid to release it to us. ”
He added: “That can make people think that it’s another indication of corruption in the ruling party. ”
Source: Citifmonline