(1) The
right to form political
parties is hereby guaranteed.
(2)
Every citizen of Ghana of
voting age has the right to
join a political party.
(3)
Subject to the provisions of
this article, a political
party is free to participate
in shaping the political will
of the people, to disseminate
information on political
ideas, social and economic
programmes of a national
character, and sponsor
candidates for election to any
public office either than to
district assemblies or lower
local government unit.
(4)
Every political party shall
have a national character, and
membership shall not be based
on ethnic, religious, regional
or other sectional divisions.
(5) The
internal organisation of a
political party shall conform
to democratic principles and
its actions and purposes shall
not contravene or be
inconsistent with this
constitution or any other law.
(6) An
organisation shall not operate
as a political party unless it
is registered as such under
the law for the time being in
force for the purpose.
(7) For
purposes of registration, a
prospective political party
shall furnish the electoral
commission with a copy of its
constitution and the names and
addresses of its national
officers: and shall satisfy
the commission that -
(a)
there is ordinarily
residence, or registered as
a voter in each district of
Ghana, at least one founding
member of the party:
(b)
the party has branches in
all the regions of Ghana and
is, in addition, organised
in not less than two thirds
of the districts of each
region; and
(c)
the parties name, emblem,
colour, motto or any other
symbol has no ethnic,
regional, religious or other
sectional connotations or
gives the appearance that it
activities are confined only
to a part of Ghana.
(8) A
political party shall not have
as a founding member, a leader
or a member of its executives,
a person who is not qualified
to be elected as a Member of
Parliament or to hold any
other public office.
(9) The
members of the national
executive committee of a
political party shall not be
chosen from all the regions of
Ghana.
(10)
Subject to the provisions of
this constitution, every
citizen of voting age has the
right to participate in
political activity intended to
influence the composition and
policies of the Government.
(11) The
state shall provide fair
opportunity to all political
parties to present their
programmes to the public by
ensuring equal access to the
state-owned media.
(12) All
presidential candidates shall
be given the same amount of
time and space on the
state-owned media to present
their programmes to the
people.
(13)
Every candidate for election
to Parliament has the right to
conduct his campaign freely
and in accordance with law.
(14)
Political parties shall be
required by law-
(a) to
declare to the public their
revenues and assets and the
sources of those revenues
and assets; and
(b) to
publish to the public
annually their audited
accounts.
(15)
Only a citizen of Ghana may
make a contribution or
donation to a political party
registered in Ghana.
(16) A
member of an organisation or
interest group shall not be
required to join a particular
political party by virtue of
his membership of the
organisation or group.
(17)
Subject to the provisions of
this Chapter, Parliament shall
by law regulate the
establishment and functioning
of political parties.
