Every Officer elected or appointed as an officer of the Party shall subscribe to the following three oaths: Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Secrecy as provided in Schedule I to this Constitution before an appropriate Principal Officer of the Party as may be approved by the National Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 21: CODE OF CONDUCT AND BYE-LAWS
21.1 Responsibilities and Obligations of the Party
i. The Party shall endeavour to strive for the common good of the Party through responsible actions, excellent service delivery as well as devoted obligation to best practices.
ii. The Party shall foster mass participation and togetherness through solidarity and cooperation.
iii. The Party shall be sensitive and adherent to the moral values, religion, culture, customs and traditions of all members of the Party and of all people through tolerance, respect as well as peaceful coexistence.
iv. The Party shall strive to be sensitive to gender values and promote the principles of equity amongst all people.
v. The Party shall encourage openness and honesty in the operations of the Party as well as in the leadership dispensations through regular periodic accounting and auditing exercises.
vi. The Party shall mobilise resources for the purpose of the welfare of the Party and for the benefit of all peoples in the nation. The Party shall mobilise and utilise its resources for the intended purposes as established by the Party’s standing agreements.
21.2 Rules of Conduct for Party Members
All Executive Committees and party member shall faithfully comply with and apply the following rules of conduct:
i. Ensure the unity and cohesion of the party at all times.
ii. Defend the name of the Party as well as its decisions.
iii. Faithfully implement all lawful decisions of the party.
iv. Be a model for freedom, justice and accountability.
v. Show loyalty to the Party at all times and in particular ensure that any confidential matters of the Party are not divulged to unauthorised persons.
vi. Register as a voter and vote at all elections and referendum.
vii. Pay Party subscription fees and dues regularly.
viii. Maintain the highest standard of personal as well as professional ethics.
ix. Refrain from using official positions to secure special privileges or benefits for themselves.
x. Put the goals of the Party before personal goals; putting the best interests of the Party and people ahead of individual interest.
xi. Abide by the oaths of allegiance and secrecy upon assumption of executive positions.
21.3 Party Discipline
i. Disciplinary actions against a Party member shall be implemented by the respective executives of the relevant Party organ on the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee of that level.
ii. Where the Executive Committee suspends a member, it shall, within one month from the date of suspension, refer the matter for adjudication to the National Disciplinary Committee.
iii. Where the Executive Committee fails to refer the matter to the Disciplinary Committee within one month, the suspension shall lapse unless renewed.
iv. The Executive Committee may renew the suspension for five (5) consecutive months only.
v. National Disciplinary Committee may adjudicate upon any matter referred to it by the National Executive Committee.
vi. The disciplinary process shall have regard to the due processes and the rules of natural justice
vii. A Party member may be subjected to Party discipline for any of the following:
a. Breach of any of the provisions of this Constitution.
b. Conduct or activities likely to bring the Party to hatred, ridicule, or contempt.
c. Insubordination.
d. Negligence in the executive of roles, responsibilities and lawful decisions or directives of the Party.
e. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential Party information.
f. Any other act or omission likely to impact adversely on the effectiveness of the Party’s policies, programmes and strategies.
viii. The following disciplinary measures may be imposed:
a. Expulsion.
b. Suspension
c. Removal from office
d. Disqualification from holding office in the future.
e. Fine.
ix. Any member who is expelled or any person who ceases to be a member of the Party thorough the declaration of such intention shall return all Party properties in his/her custody.
x. Any member aggrieved by a decision at any of the various levels shall have the right to appeal to the immediate higher level in that successive order up to the National Congress. The decision of the National Congress shall be final.
21.4 Complains and Appeals Procedure
i. Any member who has reasonable grounds to believe that another member or members of the
Party are in breach of the provisions of this Article may lodge a petition in writing to an appropriate Executive Committee for redress.
ii. Where the grievance is against a National Officer the petition may be lodged with the Executive Committee.
iii. All members of the Party are enjoined to exhaust the complaints procedure contained in this Constitution before recourse to legal proceedings or adverse publications in the media against the Party at any level.
iv. For the avoidance of doubt any Party member who commences legal proceedings against the Party for whatever reason without exhausting the complaints procedure and reliefs available under this Constitution shall be subject to Party discipline.
v. A Disciplinary Committee shall, within 7 days of receipt of a compliant, convene a meeting to consider the complaint.
vi. A Disciplinary Committee shall, unless an extension of time is granted by the National Executive Committee, conclude its deliberations and make appropriate recommendations to the Executive Committee within 21 days of its first sitting for implementation.
vii. All recommendations from a Disciplinary Committee shall be by majority decision in the absence of a consensus.
viii. In the performance of its functions, a Disciplinary Committee shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person.
ix. Any member aggrieved by the decision of a Disciplinary Committee to public elections may, within 14 days of notice of such decision by the Executive Committee, appeal in writing addressed to the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the immediate higher level.
x. Any decision by an Executive Committee to vary the recommendation of its Disciplinary Committee shall be by a majority of 2/3 of its entire functional membership.
21.5 Party Standing Orders
GDC shall establish Standing Orders for the Executive Committees to enhance orderliness and discipline in the governance and administrative dispensations of the Party.
21.5 Party Rules of Procedures
GDC shall develop Rules of Procedures for the Executive Committees to enhance the administrative dispensations of the Party’s National, Regional and Constituency Secretariats/Offices.