Ghana Center for Democratic Development Drafts Bill to Regulate Political Financing

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with the British High Commission, has developed a Draft Model Political Finance Bill aimed at bolstering transparency, accountability, and fairness within Ghana's political party financing system. This initiative seeks to address the escalating costs of political competition, which CDD-Ghana identifies as a significant threat to the integrity and sustainability of the nation's democracy.

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This initiative was in response to the rising and often unchecked cost of political competition, which posed a growing threat to the integrity and sustainability of Ghana’s democracy.

Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, highlighted that evidence from recent studies indicates a sharp increase in campaign expenditures across successive electoral cycles. He explained that the growing monetization of politics not only erects barriers for capable but less-resourced individuals seeking office but also fosters opacity, weakens accountability, and heightens the risk of corruption. While Ghana's 1992 Constitution and the Political Parties Act of 2000 provide a framework for regulation, Adu-Gyamfi noted that deficiencies in enforcement, disclosure requirements, and limits on donations and spending have undermined their effectiveness.

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The growing monetisation of politics created barriers to entry for capable but less-resourced citizens, while fuelling opacity, weakening accountability and increasing the risk of corruption.

These legislative gaps, he pointed out, have created avenues for unreported and potentially illicit funds to influence political processes, thereby eroding public trust in elections. To ensure broad support and incorporate diverse perspectives, CDD-Ghana has actively engaged with political parties, civil society organizations, the private sector, university students, and youth groups across the country. A recent media workshop was organized to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of political financing challenges and the proposed model law's potential to address existing shortcomings.

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Gaps in enforcement, disclosure requirements, donation limits and expenditure ceilings had limited their effectiveness.

Duke Mensah Opoku, Senior Political Officer at the British High Commission in Accra, echoed concerns about the rising costs of political campaigns and their funding sources posing substantial challenges to Ghana's democracy. He cited studies suggesting that the cost of presidential elections could exceed $100 million, disproportionately affecting women and persons with disabilities and potentially fueling corruption. The UK remains committed to supporting Ghana's efforts to foster a transparent and inclusive democratic process.

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The media workshop was intended to equip journalists with a better understanding of the state of political party and campaign financing, key challenges and gaps in the existing legal and regulatory framework.