PNG Government to pump in massive K400 million for 2022 General Elections

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says his Government will provide full funding support to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) to hold the 2022 General Election.

He also announced that his Government is committed to free and fair elections.

PM Marape said this today after a briefing by Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai to MPs on preparations for the elections.

Sinai told the Prime Minister and MPs that the PNGEC would require K400 million to hold the 2022 elections, compared to K399 million in 2017 and K235 million in 2012.

In the 2017 elections, K278 million was used by the PNGEC on election costs, while the balance of K121 million was spent on security.

Sinai recommended that funding be released to support the PNGEC conduct its Electoral Roll Programme, as well as strategies for polling and counting.

He said resources must be made available in the first quarter of 2022.

PM Marape said his Government would provide the K400 million needed by the PNGEC to hold the elections.

“The Electoral Commission wants K400 million to hold the 2022 elections and we will allocate that in the 2022 Budget,” he said.

“We will give the Electoral Commission our full support.”

PM Marape said outside organisations would be included in the Election Planning Committee to ensure free and fair elections.

He also appealed to people around the country to register their names for voting.

“We will include outside organisations such as Transparency International, National Research Institute, Institute of National Affairs and churches in the Election Planning Committee to ensure free and fair elections,” PM Marape said.

“I also ask our people to enroll in the census and common roll updates which will be carried out before the elections.”

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