Ghana Political Parties

The Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) is a platform for dialogue by all the Parliamentary Political Parties in Ghana.

Objectives

Commencing in 2002, the Programme identified three major objectives as key to the strengthening of multi party democracy in Ghana. These were:

• The creation of a level playing field for all political parties registered and operating in Ghana. This field, they emphasized, could be levelled if all political parties had equal access to resources and to programmes organized by the media.
• The building and strengthening of the institutional capacity of political parties. This could be realised if members of political parties could be equipped with the requisite skills to enable them to function more productively.
• The enhancement of the image of political parties in the eyes of the electorate. It was conceded that, inadequate or lack of coverage of political parties’ programmes, contributed to a lack of information or misconceptions about political party activities in the eyes of the electorate.

Activities undertaken to date

In pursuit of these objectives the GPPP has undertaken and continues to undertake a broad range of activities.  Generally, the activities are planned and implemented through the Caucus of Party Chairmen and the Platform of General Secretaries and Policy Analysts which meets at least once a month.

The activities undertaken to date include:

• the provision of funding to enable the various parties to set up secretariats, ensuring their offices are fully equipped with computers, photocopiers and fax machines, amongst other items;
• the holding of joint symposia across the country to enable the parties to interact with their supporters and promote a spirit of inter-party co-operation;
• training and educating political parties on their roles in a multiparty democracy and in the rudiments of political party administration;
• funding five full-time personnel to research and develop party policies to assist the parties to engage in constructive debate and dialogue on national issues;
• the setting up of a Chairman’s Caucus (comprising the national Chairmen of the four Political Parties with representation in Parliament) which meets to speak on national issues and to provide an avenue for conflict resolution;
• the undertaking of a range of activities designed at ensuring an effective conduct of national elections (further information on the IEA Election Programme is provided separately);
• the establishment of a binding Political Parties Code of Conduct (insert link) and the creation of an enforcement body to investigate complaints under the Code;
• the preparation of draft legislation such as the Political Parties Funding Bill, the Political Parties Bill and the Presidential Transition Bill; and
• the drafting of the Democracy Consolidated Strategy Paper (DCSP) which led to the current Constitutional Review process.

Planned activities

Whilst multiparty democracy has made significant inroads in Ghana since its return to democratic rule, the work of the GPPP remains important today.  The upcoming agenda for the GPCC is a busy one and will include:

• working to address the increased polarisation of politics in Ghana;
• reviewing the 2008 Political Parties Code of Conduct in advance of the 2012 elections; and
• engaging with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to familiarise the political parties with the work of the NDPC, to ensure cross-party ownership of a development plan and to ultimately ensure the continuity of development plans across administrations.

Reports on GPPP related events and activities are provided through IEA Media Releases which can be accessed from this website.