New political party permitted to contest Ghana's Nov. election

Ghana's electoral commission has granted the All People's Congress (APC) party its certificate to contest general elections due in November, local media reported on Monday.

The APC has become the 26th party to be permitted to contest the election.

Hassan Ayariga, leader and founder of the APC, received the certificate from Amadu Sulley, the deputy chairman of the electoral commission, at the weekend.

Sulley said political parties that didn't open at least 144 offices across the country or didn't submit their "audited accounts" to the electoral body before the end of May would have their certificates withdrawn.

Ghanaian law also orders political parties participating in elections to submit details of their expenditure on their candidates to the electoral body, Sulley said.

He also said measures to enhance transparency during the voting would be taken seriously, warning political parties "not to give any political slant" to the measures.

Ayariga led the People's National Convention party to contest the 2012 general elections but only took 0.22 percent of votes cast. He later broke away from the party and formed his own party.

Source: XINHUA