Some 36 of the 43 political parties for the September 30 elections have already submitted bank accounts to MINATD.
Seven of the 43 political parties running for the September 30 twin legislative and municipal elections are yet to submit their bank accounts and other relevant documents at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, MINATD that have to be processed and transmitted to the Ministry of Finance for the deserved State funding for each of the parties to deposited in their bank accounts. The State has made available FCFA 1.7 billion as public funds for the election campaigns. Half of the money has to paid to the contending political parties during the campaign period and the remaining half after the proclamation of the elections results.
The Director of the Department of Political Affairs at MINATD, Yomo Alexandre-Marie disclosed on September 23, 2013 by 2:00 p.m. that seven political parties were still awaited with information on their bank accounts. The parties included the Front pour le Salut National du Cameroun, FSNC, Front Uni du Cameroun, FUC, Mouvement pour la Libération et Développement du Cameroun, MLDC, Union des Mouvement Socialistes, UMS, Front Populaire pour le Développement, FPD, Regroupement des Démocrates Indépendants, RDI, and Mouvement Patriotique du Salut Camerounais, MPSC. Staff of the Department of Political Affairs at MINATD are mobilised to receive the representatives of the parties.
Mr Yomo Alexandre-Marie stated that whenever the documents of each party are transmitted to the Ministry of Finance, the funds are expediently deposited at the bank accounts of the parties concerned for officials to withdraw to beef up their campaign resources. Some party officials, such as the Secretary General of the Alliance of Progressive Forces, APF, Alice Sadio in an earlier discussion with Cameroon Tribune last week acknowledged the effective receipt of the State funds destined for the APF.
State funding of campaigns is in respect of Section 284 (1) of the Electoral Code which provides that, "The State shall contribute to the funding of election campaigns by defraying some expenses of political parties or candidates." Section 285 of the Electoral Code specifies that, "Public funds earmarked for the funding of election campaigns for the election of Members of Parliament, Senators, regional or municipal councilors, shall be shared in two equal parts among the political parties taking part in the elections.
The first part shall be paid after the publication of the lists of candidates to all parties depending on the lists submitted and endorsed in the various constituencies; the second part shall be paid after the proclamation of results to parties proportionately to the number of seats obtained.
