Poor distribution of campaign cash caused NDC – Kwesi Botchwey

The chairman of the 13-member committee outdoored by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to investigate the party’s defeat to the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 elections, Professor Kwesi Botchwey has revealed that lack of proper distribution of the campaign funds was one of the major causes of the party’s humiliating defeat.

He said the situation where structures at the grassroot level of the party didn’t receive funds to prosecute an effective campaign adding that it affected the party's chance of winning the elections.

Prof. Botchwey said the poor distribution of campaign funds ensured that it was extremely difficult to even get transportation for party supporters to the various constituencies to vote during the elections.

"Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Kasapa FM, he said "Contrary to the perception that NDC is a rich party, I can tell you that the issue of campaign money distribution caused the NDC a lot in the 2016 election.

"Several places across the country I visited with the fact-finding team, we realized that campaign funds never got to them. A large number of polling agents who worked for the party during the elections have still not been paid.

"Money issues were a problem for the NDC. We didn’t quantify how much the party spent but we looked at the amounts that were supposed to go to the grass roots where those in-charge could not do so. If you look at some places clearly, there were money issues."

However, the committee has presented a 455-page report to the National Executive Committee of the party and made eight (8) recommendations to guide the party for future elections.

Meanwhile, a youth group has accused some executives of pocketing monies and resources meant for the campaign in the general elections.

According to the group, some executives accumulated party resources and also squandered cash released by former President John Mahama to undertake campaign activities.