LACK OF SYSTEM TO MONITOR FUNDING FOR POLITICAL PARTIES

Source:The National

According to an official statement, the Government has allocated over K85 million to political parties since 2001, yet there remains an absence of a robust system to track the expenditure of these funds. Mr. Solomon Puana, Director of the Registry of Political Parties, stated, "There are valid concerns; however, the capability to monitor fund usage is lacking. When political parties are requested to submit their election returns, we are only afforded a limited view of the actual financial resources expended in their campaigns. Unfortunately, the prevalence of money politics is a sobering reality in Papua New Guinea, and the necessary inter-agency coordination to oversee these practices is not in place."Mr. Puana noted that the Organic Law on Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) mandates that the State fund political parties, particularly those with sitting Members of Parliament, via the Central Fund established under Section 76.

In August, Registrar of Political Parties Emanuel Pok indicated that the State has disbursed K85,638,434 in the past 24 years. "This figure includes periodic salaries and monthly stipends for political party executives," he clarified. "Despite encountering delays in funding, when disbursements occur, they are backdated and provided in full." Mr. Puana emphasized that political parties must adhere to the OLIPPAC requirements by submitting their financial reports by March 31 each year, which should encompass updated membership lists, revised policy platforms, and party constitutions.

Furthermore, each party is expected to submit an election report, due three months following an election. "The most evident source of funding is membership fees," he remarked. "A political party with a Member in Parliament is assured K10,000." "This funding is designated for the maintenance of political parties." "It is within the mandate of the Registry of Political Parties to oversee party and candidate donations. However, fulfilling this responsibility necessitates expertise that exceeds the current capacity of the Registry of Political Parties.

Three UOG Students Complete Industrial Training with the Registry

The Registry saw the successful completion of a six‑week Industrial Training Program by three students from the University of Goroka (UOG): Ms. Saphirah Iveke, Mr. Johnson Miam, and Mr. Gerard Kelpet. The program, which commenced on 10 August 2026, provided the students with practical exposure to the Registry’s daily operations and its vital role in supporting Papua New Guinea’s democratic processes. The three students where directly engaged with the Registry functions and administrative activities. They also participated in other various workshops such as the Regional Women’s Forum on Politics and the Code of Ethics for Political Parties. Other two significant activities was the Registry’s 25th anniversary celebration event and the Political Parties Exposition for parties.
On 18 September 2026, the students were each awarded an Industrial Training Certificate at a farewell luncheon. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Kelpet acknowledged that they had not known of the Registry prior to the program but now deeply appreciate the critical role it plays in safeguarding democracy.
Registrar Mr. Emmanuel Pok expressed gratitude for their contributions and wished them success in their future endeavors, emphasizing the Registry’s commitment to nurturing young talent and raising awareness of democratic institutions. This milestone reflects the Registry’s dedication to building partnerships with academic institutions and fostering the next generation of professionals who will strengthen Papua New Guinea’s democratic framework.

REGISTRY WITNESS PARTY DIALOGUE

Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting the growth and capacity of political parties in Papua New Guinea, representatives from the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates attended a dialogue between Pangu Pati and the Communist Party of China (CPC) on July 27th, 2026 following an invitation from Pangu Pati.

The Registry’s Policy and Legal Division was invited to witness the discussions surrounding a proposed sister-party relationship. The Registry delegation consisted of Director for Funding and Disclosure, Mr. Solomon Puana, Manager for Disclosure, Ms. Fraghi and Manager for Legal. Ms. Lyean Nants. The Pangu Pati team was led by National General Secretary. Mr. Morris Dogimai Tovebae alongside Minister for Education and Member for Kerowagi, Francis Kinkin Sinue, Minister for Housing and Member for Tewae-Siassi, Dr. Kobby Bomareo, and Secretariat officers.

During the session, Pangu Ministers expressed gratitude to the CPC and referenced the historical foundation of PNG’s foreign relationships established by late Sir Michael Thomas Somare in 1974 and Sir Maori Kiki in 1976. The discussions emphasized that while the proposed relationship remains open, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) explicitly restrains both parties from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.Registry Insights and Guidance on Party Governance As part of the Registry’s role in guiding political parties on organizational structure and development, Mr. Solomon Puana was invited to share insights from his previous visit to China.He highlighted two key observations relevant to party institutional building saying the structured framework utilized for internal political education and capacity building, the CPC’s active engagement with sister parties globally to foster international ties.

The dialogue also served as an opportunity to clarify regulatory frameworks. When CPC’s Mr. Zhao Hongtao inquired about the impact of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) on local political parties, Mr. Puana provided clear legal guidance. He explained that 95% of the law remains stable with only 5% undergoing changes, highlighting that OLIPPAC acts as the primary legislation, while individual party constitutions serve as sub-legislations designed to govern internal party members.MOU Deferred for AdjustmentsWhile the overall engagement was positive, the MOU was not signed during the session and has been deferred to a later date to allow for necessary adjustments. Key provisions, including China’s inclusion of the One China Policy, are set to be amended to properly align with the mutual understanding of both parties before formal execution.

The Registry of Political Parties continues to observe such developments to ensure political parties operate within statutory frameworks while expanding their organizational capacity.

Registry initiates Chronicle Project

For decades, much of Papua New Guinea’s history has been viewed and documented through an international lens. But as the nation celebrates its 50th anniversary of Constitutional Independence, a groundbreaking new initiative is set to change that narrative by telling PNG’s story from the inside out. The Chronicle of Political Party Project, an initiative spearheaded by the Registry of Political Parties, is officially documenting the history of political parties in Papua New Guinea from 1960 to 2025.
Brainchild of the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Pok, the project aims to record the crucial emergence of political parties in the 1960s and their direct involvement in PNG’s journey to Independence in 1975.With the nation reaching its 50-year milestone, the initiative serves as a vital tool for national identity, ensuring that younger generations understand the foundation laid by the country’s early leaders. “We have a political culture where political parties come up and die out, even after the founder dies, the party dies with it. Even a party that formed the government, faces the same fate. Parties like People’s Democratic Party (PDM) have been strong in the 1997 election and now all the good leadership, the policies have not been recorded. Histories of these once vibrant political parties have not been recorded, even the traits of these dynamic political leaders, that’s why I have come up with this project.” Mr. Pok said. The project – which concludes in both a comprehensively written book and documentary series stands as the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission’s (IPPCC) formal tribute to the country, its people, the government and its founding fathers.
The monograph heavily focuses on how early leaders realized they needed to organize themselves into formal political parties to effectively complete for the right to govern. By profiling major parties, the project fills a critical, long-standing gap in PNG’s documented history. Parties profiled in the project include the ones who have dominated the landscape over the last five decades, such as Pangu Pati, United Party, National Party, People’s Progress Party (PPP). Melanesian Alliance Party, People’s National Congress (PNC) and National Alliance. While time limits prevented every single party from being profiled in this initial launch, the Registry has confirmed that this is an ongoing effort that will eventually include all parties over time.
This chronicle is a look back from the journey of political parties charted through but also a roadmap for the future. By looking at the successes and failures of these parties in public policy, structural reforms, resources management and service delivery, the project aims to provide invaluable lessons for the next 50 years of PNG’s development

FEMALE STAFF PARTICIPATE IN MARIANVILLE CELEBRATIONS

Five female staff members from the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates Commission recently joined fellow alumnae to celebrate the Marianville Secondary School’s historic diamond jubilee.The 60th-anniversary celebration brought together women from all walks of life, spanning from the pioneering class of 1966 to current students. Together, they gathered to honor and appreciate the school’s faith-based principles and dedicated nurturing, which have long empowered young women to become well-educated, principled leaders.
Taking advantage of this unique gathering, the five Registry staff members, conducted an awareness session on a major milestone, the Registry’s new provision requiring political parties to endorse a 10% quota for female candidates under their party banners.The initiative received high praise from prominent attendees. Ms. Angelyn Paranda, Acting Director of the Legal Training Institute (LTI), commended the Registry’s efforts, noting that Papua New Guinea has lacked laws specifically creating space for women in politics since 1975. “This is the first law of its kind, and it is historic in itself,” she said. Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Anna Kavana Bais, former Secretary for Community Development, a 1985 Marianville alumna, and a People’s Party-endorsed candidate for Moresby North-Wester in the 2022 National Election, expressed great optimism. She noted that the revised Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates brings genuine hope for future female leaders.
Many of the Marianville alumnae in attendance now hold prominent leadership roles or have contested past national elections. Fully understanding the steep challenges women face in the political arena, they widely applauded the Registry for creating a concrete pathway for women to enter politics. Notable attendees included, Acting Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi, 2022 Moresby North-East candidate under United Labour Party, Dianne Unagi and Principal Legal Officer for Ela Motors, Ms. Erica Gwale.
The five participating staff members expressed their gratitude to the Registrar and the IPPCC for providing the support necessary to attend the anniversary. Following their successful awareness outreach at the event, the team has officially submitted a list of recommendations to the management to groom women leaders in the country.

LESSONS FROM DEI OPEN

The Registry of Political Parties conducted a thorough field observation during the recent Dei Open By-election in the Western Highlands province. The Registry prioritized these observations to assess, justify, and strengthen the institutional participation of political parties. The Dei Open by-election was a critical, standalone case study for election observers and political stakeholders. With the 2027 National General Election approaching, the findings from Dei provide essential indicators of the political landscape, party awareness, and systemic challenges within the Highlands region.
While the by-election period was notably peaceful and free of major conflict, severe structural issues were observed at the polling booths. Security personnel and observers noted the widespread practice of katim vote, a way of block voting where groups of individuals override individual choice to secure first-preference votes for a community endorsed candidate.The IPPCC observers have noted that this practice directly undermines the constitutional right to a secret ballot. These findings align with recent warnings from Acting Electoral Commissioner, Margaret Vagi, who emphasized during a 2026 workshop that block voting compromises democratic integrity and weakens the core of a representative democracy. To protect individual voter agreement, future electoral management must strictly enforce constitutional voting protocols.
Thin Party Participation and the Need for OLIPPACC Awareness
A primary concern for the Registry was the remarkably low level of institutional party engagement. Out of 25 contesting candidates, only one was formally endorsed by a registered political party, Jeremiah Pim, running under the People First Party banner. The remaining 24 candidates contested as independents. Field interviews revealed that a vast majority of voters lacked a basic understanding of the role, mandate, and importance of political parties within PNG’s democratic system. Voting behavior remains heavily dictated by tribal loyalties, candidate personalities, and family legacies rather than party policies or organizational platforms. For the Registry, this highlights an urgent need for strong, nationwide ward-level awareness campaigns to educate electors on how political parties stabilize and drive parliamentary democracy.
Marginalization of Women in the Electoral Process
The observation team reported a blunt shortfall in inclusive participation, with zero female candidates contesting the by-election, deeply male-dominated system continue to lower women to minor roles, effectively shutting them out of active political engagement. Interviews with local women indicated that aggressive atmospheres at polling venues and cultural barriers prevent them from exercising their democratic rights. Many expressed fear or indifference, noting that the dominance of male voters makes it extremely difficult for women to have a meaningful voice at the ballot box.
Recommendations for the 2027 Roadmap
To ensure that the 2027 National General Election is free, fair, safe and truly inclusive, the IPPCC observation team has suggested the following urgent policy recommendations based on direct community feedback.Implementation of Electronic Voting: Transitioning toward biometric or electronic voting mechanisms, the use of photo roll to eliminate the physical intimidation related with block voting and ballot tampering. Mandatory NIC Verification: Integrating National Identification (NID) cards into the voter enrollment and verification process to clean up the common roll. Gender-Segregated Polling Booths: Establishing dedicated, separate polling areas for women to ensure they can cast their ballots safely, independently, and without external coercion. Proactive Party Campaigns Encouraging registered political parties to maintain a continuous, visible presence through policy awareness year-round, rather than surfacing during brief campaign windows. The Registry’s observation team has concluded that by addressing these structural weaknesses and updating the Code of Conduct, PNG can better safeguard the integrity of its electoral systems and foster a more responsible political culture.

REGISTRY TEAM TRACKS SHIFTING VOTER TRENDS IN NEW IRELAND BY-ELECTION

An observation team from the Office of the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates Commission has completed an extensive monitoring task in New Ireland Province, uncovering major shifts in voter behavior and deep-rooted political rivalries. Deployed to Kavieng from January 16th to 23rd, 2026, the commission’s team was assigned with evaluating political party performance, measuring voter perceptions, and assessing the participation of women during the provincial by-election. The officials from the IPPCC collected these findings, highlighting a changing political landscape following the passing of the former Prime Minister, People’s Progress Party (PPP) founder and Governor, Late Sir Julius Chan.
Commission Captures Voter Backlash
Using targeted questionnaire guides and face-to-face interviews during exit polls, the Registry’s team documented a significant breakdown in traditional party-line voting. In the past, New Ireland voters have strictly aligned with major party platforms. However, the recent controversial strategies during the recent by-election disrupted this trend. The nation's oldest political entity, Pangu Pati, chose not to endorse its own candidate, instead joining forces with the PPP to back Byron Chan, the late Governor’s son. Commission observers recorded widespread dissatisfaction among grass-roots party followers, who openly criticized the alliance. Locals told Registry’s branding the coalition a "political marriage of convenience" designed solely to maintain hereditary control. The report notes that this internal friction drove a large portion of traditional party loyalists to abandon the coalition candidate and cast their votes for independents instead. Out of ten contesting candidates, seven ran as independents.
Key Candidate Platforms and Cultural Hurdles Monitored
The Registry team monitored the campaigns of several prominent contenders, noting distinct differences in strategy and public reception: In the case of Byron Chan (PPP) coming from a strongly leveraged established party machinery and received a wave of "sympathy votes," a succession trend the Registry notes has been repeated in other recent by-elections like Bulolo, Maprik, and Porgera-Paiela. For Kepas Aruban Wali (Independent) which merged as the primary challenger to the Chan dynasty. Running on the slogan "Mangi Ples Yet" (A Local Boy), Wali drew large crowds. Registry interviews revealed his message resonated deeply with voters frustrated that a province hosting two major gold mines has seen little to no new infrastructure. The lone female candidate in the race, Rhodie Paut-Nawara (Independent), presented a comprehensive 100-day policy platform focusing on power generation, water supplies, and medical facility scoping. Despite Paut-Nawara’s strong third-place finish in the 2022 National General Election, the Registry’s team observed that the deeply engrained patriarchal Maimai (Chief) culture continues to severely restrict the political advancement of women. Local interviews conducted by the team confirmed that because male chiefs dominate community decision-making, the chances for female candidates remain slim without a coordinated shift in cultural mindsets.
Field Operations and Biometric Testing
Registry officials on the ground monitored all six polling stations within the Kavieng Urban LLG, reporting a highly peaceful environment with no security incidents and a light police presence. The commission highlighted a notable administrative trial: polling officials successfully captured facial photographs of voters at exit points. This initiative was implemented to build data security ahead of the biometric voting roll-out planned for the 2027 National General Election which may not happen following confirmation from the PNG Electoral Commission.However, the team flagged a severe, recurring warning for electoral authorities. Many elderly citizens in their 50s and 60s discovered their names were entirely missing from the common roll—an ongoing issue previously documented in 2017 and 2022. While the Election Manager received last-minute clearance to utilize the 2022 supplementary list to rectify some omissions, the Registry warned that unresolved common roll issues could trigger widespread chaos in the 2027 national elections if left unaddressed.
Post-Election Standoff Following Declaration
The counting process finally endorsed the Registry's field observations of a highly competitive race. Byron Chan was declared the winner after the elimination of National Alliance candidate Joshua Takin Soi provided the necessary preference flow. Chan secured the seat with 21,481 votes, defeating runner-up Kepas Wali (15,725 votes) by a margin of 5,756.