The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) has held two separate meetings for the Caucus of Political Party Chairmen, and the Platform of General Secretaries and Policy Analysts.
The meetings were held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at the institute to plan the activities of the IEA-GPPP for 2015.
The meeting of the Caucus of Political Party Chairmen was attended by the National Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Paul Afoko, The Peoples National Convention (PNC), Alhaji Ramadan and the Convention People’s Party, Ms. Samia Nkrumah.
The newly-elected Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who doubles up as Chairman of the Caucus, Mr. Kofi Portuphy, was unable to attend the meeting.
The meeting of the Platform of General Secretaries and Policy Analysts was attended by Mr. Asiedu Nketia (NDC), Mr. Kwabena Agyepong (NPP), Mr. Bernard Mornah (PNC) and Mrs. Suzan Adu Amanquah (CPP). Also in attendance were Policy Analysts of the various Political Parties.
The IEA Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) has since 2003, regularly brought together leaders of the Political Parties with representation in Parliament.
Through its monthly meetings, party leaders are able to discuss policy issues of national significance in a non-partisan atmosphere.
This has helped broker consensus and led to key policy reforms in Ghana. Key outcomes of this collaboration include the Presidential Transition Act (Act 845), Revised Political Parties Bill (2007) and the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill (2007).
Another key outcome is the Political Parties Code of Conduct which guides the conduct of party officials before, during and after elections. Overall, the IEA-GPPP has sought to minimize the political polarization and acrimony that existed among party leaders in the country.
It is expected that subsequent meetings of the IEA-GPPP in 2015 will focus on issues such as corruption, ghost names on the government payroll, electoral reforms, the role of Parliament, restoring public confidence in the institutions of state, management of natural resources and political polarization among others others.
Source: IEA