Sunyani: Mr Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, the Director of Programmes and Operations at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has made a compelling case for the introduction of a Legislative Instrument (LI) to regulate political campaign activities across the nation. He emphasized the need for such regulation to control excessive funding, curb the abuse of incumbency, and prevent the overstretching of the Electoral Commission.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Adu-Gyamfi highlighted that the implementation of a legislative framework would significantly enhance electoral integrity and support the consolidation of Ghana's democratic gains. His remarks were made during the Bono Regional stakeholders' forum, which focused on the CDD-Ghana's draft model for political campaign regulation.
The forum, organized by CDD-Ghana in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aimed to deepen public understanding of the proposed bill. It also sought to gather public opinions and feedback to refine the draft bill further.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi pointed out that, unlike many African countries where political campaign periods are well-defined, Ghana experiences a continuous four-year cycle of campaigning. This, he argued, undermines democratic consolidation and hinders national development. He proposed that regulating campaign activities within a specific timeframe would not only curtail excessive spending but also enhance transparency by simplifying the identification of campaign donors.
He emphasized that such regulation could significantly reduce campaign expenditure and ensure proper disclosure of funding sources, which would mark a significant achievement in Ghana's democratic journey. Mr Adu-Gyamfi also noted that reforms in the electoral process would strengthen multi-party democracy and called on citizens to support this advocacy to combat electoral fraud, including vote buying and selling.
In agreement, Mrs Evelyn Opoku Tawiah, a participant at the forum, told the Ghana News Agency that addressing vote buying requires a well-informed electorate. She advocated for intensified civic education to help the public understand their civic rights and responsibilities.