It’s against law to sponsor candidates in district level elections

The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned that it is  against the law governing the district level elections for any individual or organisation to sponsor candidates whether vulnerable or not.

Civil society organisations and non governmental organisations (NGOs) have, therefore, been asked to desist from sponsoring the campaigns of candidates  in the upcoming district level elections.

Chiefs have also been advised to desist from openly declaring their support for a particular candidate or campaign for any candidate.

At a workshop on ‘Improving the Quality of Information in the Electoral Process’ organised in Cape Coast, for media practitioners,  Mr Christian Owusu Parry, Director, Public Affairs of the EC stressed that any candidate, including women and the physically challenged, who would be found to have been supported by any individual or group would have their candidature withdrawn.

He also called on political parties to stop campaigning for particular candidates.

“All such support must be given to the EC to assist all the candidates,’’ Mr Parry stressed.

He said candidates who also displayed alliance to any political party would have their candidature withdrawn.

Mr Parry explained that the district level elections were by law non-partisan and was to allow individuals to be elected on their own merit.

The two-day workshop was to educate media practitioners on the laws governing elections in the country and to encourage them to develop interest in the district level elections.

The participants were taken through election monitoring and observation, the district level elections and some election terminologies.

He urged the media personnel to help whip up interest in the elections and give accurate and fair reports on all the elections.

Mrs Philomina Edusei, the Central Regional Director of the EC, said the media performance in electoral reporting had been minimal.

She said the training was crucial to ensuring improved reportage and to help educate the public on the right information regarding elections.

Mr Ebo Sackey, a facilitator, asked participants to be circumspect in their reports.

He said it was not about speed with which one reported but the accuracy of the reports.