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http://citifmonline.com/2015/12/18/we-cant-publish-budget-on-2016-elections-now-ec/
The Electoral Commission (EC) says it will not be advisable to publish details of its budget on the 2016 general elections now.
Think Tank IMANI Ghana asked the Commission to disclose full details on the upcoming elections to Ghanaians to promote transparency.
But the Commission indicated that it will not be helpful to embark on that move now since the Commission is still in “major negotiations with vendors and potential suppliers for election related procurement.”
“As we agreed with the finance ministry and the special budget committee of Parliament, there are savings we hope to make during the procurement process. It would not be helpful for suppliers to know the amounts in the budget until we have concluded the procurement process.”
Below is the full statement from the EC
Thank you for your email. I would like to suggest that in future, please check the accuracy of media reports with the institution before writing a reaction and sharing it publicly.
It is untrue that we said a new register would cost $900m. Yesterday in Parliament we also shared in detail, the cost differences between elections in Ghana and other countries in the sub region and indeed the UK. There are several events and expenses we incur in Ghana that do not happen in the sub region and the U.K. The UK for instance does not have a biometric register or verification system. The structure of their election is structurally very different from Ghana’s.
Again, having this context would help for a structured and purposeful analysis. Sharing our budget publicly at this time may also not be too helpful. For instance, we are in major negotiations with vendors and potential suppliers for election related procurement. As we agreed with the finance ministry and the special budget committee of Parliament, there are savings we hope to make during the procurement process. It would not be helpful for suppliers to know the amounts in the budget until we have concluded the procurement process.
The Commision’s detailed budgeted I must add, has been discussed seven times with the Special Budget Committee of Parliament and the finance ministry, several other meetings with the technical committee of the finance ministry and the full House of Parliament between July and December 2015.
We would urge some restraint before we all come to conclusions. Have a lovely day..
Warm regards,…”
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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