Accra: Dr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, a governance policy advocate and Executive Director of the AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC), Ghana Chapter, has called for urgent legislative and administrative reforms to sanitise Ghana's democracy from electoral malpractice.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Aziginaateeg emphasized in an interview that while Ghana is considered one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, its electoral processes are increasingly being compromised by vote trading, self-enrichment, and weak enforcement mechanisms. He highlighted that many third-world democracies, including Ghana's, are experiencing a gradual erosion of democratic values as political participation shifts from public service to personal gain.
Dr Aziginaateeg expressed concern that elections are beginning to resemble commercial transactions rather than civic duties, with money becoming the decisive factor. This situation, he argued, sidelines competent leaders who are financially constrained. He referenced the recent Ayawaso East by-election as an example of the vulnerabilities within Ghana's electoral system, noting that allegations of misconduct called for independent investigations.
He praised Ghana's Parliament for condemning the alleged irregularities and the calls for annulment, but insisted that moral outrage must be accompanied by robust enforcement mechanisms to be effective. He proposed the introduction of a comprehensive Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to criminalize electoral violence, vote buying, and other forms of misconduct, suggesting strict penalties such as candidate disqualification, fines up to GH?500,000, and custodial sentences ranging from five to ten years.
Dr Aziginaateeg recommended strengthening accountability structures with mandates for independent investigations within seven days of any reported electoral infraction. He suggested empowering either the Electoral Commission or a newly established Electoral Offences Tribunal to conduct swift, transparent probes to prevent the politicization of investigations.
In addition to punitive measures, Dr Aziginaateeg advocated for public financing support for vetted, low-resource candidates to diminish the influence of money in politics and ensure a level playing field. He argued that democracy loses its inclusiveness when only wealthy individuals can compete, and ethical, competent leaders should not be excluded due to financial constraints.
He also called for institutional reforms, including auditing party financing systems and recalling government officials implicated in electoral misconduct, to restore public trust. Dr Aziginaateeg stressed that Ghana's democracy must transition from transactional politics to development-oriented governance, warning that unchecked monetization erodes public confidence and national progress.
He concluded that these reforms would not weaken Ghana's democracy but rather strengthen it, making it robust, credible, and attractive to investors and citizens alike. "Our democracy must be distinct from market bargaining. It must reflect integrity, accountability, and national purpose," he stated. Dr Aziginaateeg asserted that decisive legislative action, combined with sustained civic education and enforcement, would reset Ghana's democratic trajectory and safeguard it for future generations.