Chief Justice Rekindles Funding Debate

Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood - Chief Justice of Ghana

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Accra, Wednesday October 10, 2012

THE CHIEF Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood has rekindled the debate of funding political parties saying “we must critically reflect on how we will deal with the issue.”

According to her, the time had come for all stakeholders to “combat the sway of money in our politics” adding “let us remember that money injected in this fashion into our politics cannot be clean money, it could only have been acquired through corrupt means and would be recouped in like manner.”

Speaking at the maiden ‘Integrity in Governance Lecture’ at the British Council Hall on Monday evening, the Chief Justice said so long as the issue of funding for political parties was not sorted out “we have a never ending cycle of corruption.”

The lecture to be held quarterly is being organised by the William Ofori-Atta Institute of Integrity of the Central University College established to nurture and train future leaders for Africa.

Speaking on the theme “Integrity, Elections and Democratic Governance in Ghana," Mrs. Wood said there should be effective enforcement of laws related to corruption in elections, including the relevant provisions in the Criminal and Other Offences Act (1960) Act 29.

She also said effectively enforcing the Political Parties Code of Conduct in order to improve decency in political discourse and governance was necessary.

She said it was evident that all power procured “dishonestly” was not sustainable in the long run, and those who refused “peaceful political change through their manipulation or corruption of the electoral process, inevitably invite chaos and sometimes armed conflict in their countries.”

 Mrs. Wood called for enhanced professionalism of the police and other security agencies to ensure they played their roles fairly and effectively without fear or favor during elections.

She also called for the prevention of cheating in elections and stringently enforcing anti-corruption laws in the statute books.

Professor Kwesi Yankah, the new president of Central University College said the proliferation of leadership academies on the continent was an indication that there was a missing link between leadership and governance.

Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel K. Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church who chaired the lecture said “voting is an extension of the right to free expression and it must be done with integrity.

Professor Ken Agyeman Attafuah, Director of the William Ofori-Atta Institute of Integrity said the centre was designed to become a leading centre of excellence where leadership in governance would be vigorously pursued.