Sunyani: The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is fine-tuning a draft model bill aimed at regulating political party financing to strengthen and consolidate the country's multi-party democracy. The bill is designed to address gaps in the political system, tackling the growing influence of monetisation and vote-buying that undermine the integrity of Ghana's electoral systems.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, stated that the bill has been submitted to the Attorney-General and will subsequently be forwarded to parliament with government support. The bill aims to promote transparency and accountability in the financing of political party activities and campaigns.
The CDD-Ghana, in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), organized a stakeholder forum in Sunyani to deepen public understanding and gather feedback to refine the bill. Key provisions include the establishment of an independent electoral financing and enforcement authority, the introduction of expenditure ceilings for political campaigns, and the definition of a clear campaign period for political activities.
Mr. Adu-Gyamfi emphasized the bill's intent to address major challenges in the nation's political financing system and called for public support towards its passage into law. Miss Cynthia Anima Boadu, Bono Regional Director of the NCCE, acknowledged progress made under the Fourth Republic but warned that the rising cost of political competition threatens democratic integrity, highlighting the need for a comprehensive legal framework to regulate political campaign activities and financing.
Ms. Boadu expressed concern over the increasing characterization of political campaigns by excessive spending with limited transparency in funding sources. She referenced a 2018 study by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and CDD-Ghana, which showed a 59 percent increase in election costs between 2012 and 2016. A 2020 follow-up study by CDD-Ghana, supported by Adam Smith International, reported a significant rise in campaign expenditure to about GHC4 million, with funds used to 'nurture' constituencies.
The studies revealed that a substantial portion of political campaign financing comes from opaque and potentially illicit sources, some allegedly linked to organized crime. Ms. Boadu highlighted the weak enforcement of the 1992 Constitution and the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), which provides a framework for regulating political financing. She called for comprehensive campaign finance reforms to protect electoral integrity, curb corruption, and enhance transparency in democratic processes.