Give political parties public money

The head of the Liberian Delegation to the African Caribbean Pacific Countries or ACP Rep. Worlea Saywah Dunah has recommended to members of the ACP the need to use public funds to support political parties here in an effort to strengthen democracy.

The Nimba County District #7 Rep. said since political parties are the vehicles for the contestation of political power which determines the destiny and livelihood of mankind everywhere, it is an iron imperative
that resources of the state be granted in a controlled and purposeful way to improve their capacities to be competitive and freely present their platform to all of the people within their country.

Presenting on the topic Financing of Political Parties in ACP and EU countries at the 44th Session of the ACP in Nairobi, Kenya, recently, Rep. Dunah cited the task facing the ACP and EU especially in addressing the associated and ugly emerging problems of abuse of political funds.

The Liberian lawmaker who was appointed by acclamation on October 12, 2016 in Brussels by the 78 ACP and EU countries as their Rapporteur, also cited the potential influx of foreign or drug monies, political
corruption and many other ills that he said have put a dark cloud over this noble concept. Rep. Dunah suggested that there must be quick collaboration to fight the menace, arguing that research has shown it has plagued most countries of the ACP and EU and other nations all over the world.

In making a case to have political parties secure public funds, Rep. Dunah recalled how direct public financing of political parties started in West Germany in 1959, and is now prevalent in North America, Europe and other democracies with the rest of the world including ACP countries subscribing in various ways.

He said it has helped tremendously in the survival of political parties and increased the competitiveness of political contests; while corporate donations and donations from wealthy persons provide another
contentious source of funding, especially as noted by the IDEA, a group based in Sweden, in the affluent north Atlantic communities.-Edited by Winston Parley