The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) is currently working towards reviewing the code of conduct for political parties ahead of the 2012 general election in a bid to make the Commission more proactive in regulating the activities of political parties.
“We want the Commission to be more proactive in handling political parties because the current Act is weak and should be reviewed,” the Outreach Officer, Lucien Momoh told Awoko yesterday.
He said some of the penalties in the act are too weak for misconduct, and this is causing obstructions for the Commission in the implementation of its mandate.
He said the current registration fees for political parties at Le 2, 500.000 (two million five hundred thousand Leones) is too small.
The Outreach Officer went on to explain that the Commission would like to have quasi judicial powers to handle its own cases with referrals to the Supreme Court when necessary.
He also said that funding for political parties and the issue of public officers being members of political parties also needs to be reviewed.
He said the PPRC is making progress with the Law Officers Department and the Law Reform Commission concerning the review of the code of conduct for political parties.
Additionally he said the House of Parliament has assured the Commission to legislate the review before the 2012 election.
By Saidu Bah
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