Mr Kwadwo Mensah, a 54-year-old businessman in Sunyani, says he has witnessed the sharing of money and gifts during elections countless times.
“Politicians visit local communities to share gifts, cash and make juicy promises. However, when elections are over those relationships often end,” he stated.
Mr Mensah’s frustration reflects a growing public concern about the increasing influence of vote-buying and the monetisation of politics in Ghana.
Many citizens believe the rising trend threatens fairness in the electoral process and weakens democratic accountability.
Push for Political Finance Reform
The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is advocating reforms in political financing through a proposed legislation.
Dubbed by by the Draft Model Political Financing Bill, the proposal seeks to address gaps in the current regulatory framework and introduce stronger oversight mechanisms.
Mr Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, the Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, said the bill aims to regulate how political parties mobilise and spend funds while improving transparency in campaign financing.
Key Provisions of the Bill
Speaking at a recent stakeholder workshop in Sunyani, Mr Adu-Gyamfi explained that one of the key proposals was the establishment of an independent regulatory body dedicated to overseeing political financing in the country.
The bill also proposes clearly defined campaign periods to reduce prolonged and costly electioneering activities.
Additionally, it recommends spending ceilings for political campaigns, mandatory disclosure of funding sources and periodic financial reporting by political parties and candidates
According to Mr Adu-Gyamfi, political finance reform remains critical to strengthening Ghana’s democracy.
He said effective implementation of the bill could significantly improve public confidence in the electoral process.
Impact on Political Participation
Mr Adu-Gyamfi observed that excessive campaign spending and vote-buying often exclude women, young people and persons with disabilities from political participation.
“When financial power becomes the main determinant of electoral success, public office risks going to the highest bidder rather than the most qualified candidate,” he noted.
He warned that politicians might inflate public contracts to repay campaign financiers, a practice that could lead to wasteful spending and abandoned development projects.
Rising Cost of Elections
Since the adoption of the Fourth Republican Constitution in 1992, Ghana has gained recognition as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, with regular elections and peaceful transition of power.
However, political actors say regulation of political financing has not kept pace with the country’s democratic progress.
Ms Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said political campaigns in Ghana had become increasingly expensive and opaque.
“The rising cost of political campaigns has created an uneven playing field that favours candidates with access to significant financial resources,” she stated.
She explained that from billboards and rallies to media advertisements and campaign logistics, candidates now spend heavily to remain competitive.
Evidence from Studies
Ms Boadu cited a 2018 study by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and CDD-Ghana, which found that the cost of contesting parliamentary elections increased by 59 percent between 2012 and 2016.
According to the study, candidates spent an average of GHS 389,803 (about US$85,000) during that period.
A follow-up study conducted by CDD-Ghana in 2020, with support from Adam Smith International, indicated that the average cost had surged to approximately GHS 4 million, including expenses incurred to “nurture the constituency.”
The report also revealed that a significant portion of campaign funding came from opaque or undisclosed sources, some of which were linked to illicit networks.
Governance experts warn that such trends threaten democratic accountability.
Existing Legal Framework
Although the 1992 Constitution provides guidelines for regulating political financing, experts believe the framework remains inadequate.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi noted that Chapter Seven, Article 55 (14–25) of the Constitution and the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) provides the legal basis for regulating political party financing.
However, he explained that Act 574 mainly regulates political parties rather than individual candidates, creating gaps in oversight.
Under the current regulations, political parties are required to:
Submit annual audited accounts, fille statements of assets and liabilities 21 days before general elections and submit campaign expenditure reports within six months after elections
The law also restricts funding sources, allowing only Ghanaian citizens and corporate bodies with at least 75 percent Ghanaian ownership to finance political parties.
Foreign nationals are prohibited from funding political parties.
Weak Enforcement Concerns
Miss Boadu said weak enforcement of existing regulations had allowed excessive spending and hidden funding sources to flourish during elections.
She noted that the absence of clear spending limits and strict disclosure requirements created opportunities for illicit and unreported funds to finance campaigns.
“These gaps undermine electoral integrity and increase the risk of corruption in governance,” she said.
Public Skepticism
Despite growing calls for reform, some citizens remain skeptical about whether the new laws will be effectively enforced.
Mr Raphael Cubbage, an Assembly Member, said Ghana already had several well-written laws but struggled with enforcement.
He cautioned that without strong enforcement mechanisms, reforms risk becoming “another example of well-intentioned legislation that fails to produce real change.”
Mrs Evelyn Opoku Tawiah, a banker, also called for intensified public awareness.
She urged the NCCE to expand civic education programmes to help citizens understand the long-term consequences of vote-buying and excessive campaign spending.
“Resources used to influence voters can instead be invested in projects that benefit communities and promote national development,” she said.
Ghana at a Crossroads
Experts believe that with strict enforcement, a stronger regulatory framework could reduce elite control over political parties, encourage broader political participation, and strengthen public trust in democratic institutions.
However, the proposed reforms may face resistance from political actors who benefit from the current system.
Establishing an independent and adequately resourced regulatory body, as proposed in the bill, would require significant funding, institutional safeguards and bipartisan support.
The Way Forward
The CDD-Ghana Draft Model Political Financing Bill offers a pathway to reducing the corrosive influence of money in Ghana’s politics.
However, its success will ultimately depend on the political will of lawmakers, as well as the vigilance of civil society organisations and active citizen engagement.
For voters like Mr Mensah, the future of Ghana’s elections should be driven by ideas, integrity and leadership, rather than financial power.
By Benjamin Akoto
