Ghana's Election Observers Sound Alarm on Political Financing, CODEO Calls for Reforms
Ghana's democracy is facing a crisis of corruption and accountability, fueled by the exorbitant costs of running for public office according to the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
The Election Observers are therefore urging a constitutional review to address the growing issue of political financing in the country.
The call for reform comes after shocking revelations by Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, the Member of Parliament for Anyaa that aspiring parliamentary candidates spend an average of GH¢10 million on their campaigns, creating an unsustainable financial burden. This staggering amount, equivalent to over $600,000, raises serious concerns about the source of funding and the potential for corruption.
“On average, every NPP Member of Parliament who went into this battle may have spent close to GH¢10 million. From primaries to date. GH¢10 million on average. And that is because they had faith and they felt that they could win. And like I said, I am not here to add to their injury. It is a very painful thing to invest so much and lose.
“These are some of the challenges we have with our democracy. And I think that we may have to dial down. I was talking with Honourable Henry Quartey, and he felt that people were also demanding more than was doable from a lot of ministers. But who caused it? The promises were many,” Dr Kissi said on Saturday on Citi Fm's 'The Big Issues'.
At an event hosted by the Ghana Center for Democratic Governance (CDD-Ghana) to discuss incidents from the 2024 elections, CODEO Co-chair Dr. Fred Deegbe highlighted the consequences of such high campaign costs.
According to CODEO, the high cost of politics in Ghana drives corruption and pushes elected officials to prioritize personal wealth accumulation over public service. The organization argues that urgent reforms are needed to regulate political financing and reduce the financial barriers to contesting for public office.
CODEO's concerns are echoed by experts, who point out that the current system creates a culture of dependency, where politicians are beholden to their donors rather than the people they serve. This can lead to a range of corrupt practices, including the awarding of contracts and the allocation of resources in exchange for political favors.
To address these challenges, CODEO is advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana's political financing system. This includes measures to increase transparency and accountability, reduce the influence of money in politics, and promote a more level playing field for all candidates.
“It costs over an estimated $600,000 or GH¢10 million for somebody to run for the office of a parliamentarian, and that person, if he ever gets into power, how is he going to defray that cost, and all the people who helped that person become an MP will be expecting some kickbacks in either contracts or school fees, and it is too expensive, and these are the things that sometimes fuel corruption.”
Source: Lead News Online
