The government owes the Electoral Commission (EC) an outstanding GHC100 million for cost incurred during the 2016 general elections budget, an EC official has said.
Deputy EC Chairperson in charge of Operations, Amadu Sulley, who made the disclosure, is appealing to the four-month-old government to ensure payment is made to them.
He told Joy News Friday, the previous NDC government was unable to pay in full the Commission’s GHC1.2 billion budgetary allocation for the election. “There was a whooping gap of a GHC100 million which we were assured, but up to now we’ve not been given it.”
The budgetary allocation for the organisation of the December 7 general elections was GHC1.2 billion.
Former President John Mahama’s government had paid the money to the Commission in in tranches largely on a need basis.
Then Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, had explained government was unable to pay in full the Commission’s request because it had budgeted GHC800 million.
He nonetheless said government would work to raise the additional GHC400 million to the Commission.
Then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) berated the then government for reneging on its promise.
Four months after the general elections, the EC says it is still being owed by the government.
Mr Sulley said some of their vendors have to bear with them because they have confidence in the Commission to pay them. “Up to now they are still waiting for the money.”
He said they have petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the matter for payment to be made to them.
“The current government has assured us that the money would be catered for,” he said, adding he will contact the Commission’s Finance Department to find out if payment has been made.
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