The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International, has raised alarm over the growing influence of money in Ghana’s political landscape, warning that it poses a serious challenge to the country’s democratic standing.
Speaking at a media launch in Accra, GII Executive Director Mary Awelana Addah expressed concerns about the increasing “monetization” of the electoral process, particularly in terms of election financing and the misuse of state resources.
“Money is becoming a determining factor in Ghana’s democracy,” Madam Addah remarked. She referred to a joint study conducted by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and the Westminster Foundation, which revealed that parliamentary candidates, on average, must raise almost GH₵390,000 just to secure their party’s primary nomination.
“This financial burden is a serious threat to Ghana’s democratic reputation,” Madam Addah warned, adding, “We need to have reforms, and those reforms should specifically include sanctions against those who misuse public platforms for personal political gain. We see district chief executives using state events to promote the ruling party’s achievements—this is a clear instance of abuse of incumbency.”
Gilbert Sam, Senior Election Specialist at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES-Ghana), echoed the GII’s concerns and stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the party and campaign financing system.
“If we continue on this path, our democracy will become exclusive to a certain class of people, pointing out the barriers this creates for women and young people, saying, “If a woman or a young person cannot raise a certain amount of money, it means they cannot participate in the electoral process, win elections, or contribute to decision-making. This is not what democracy should look like.”
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