Ghana must act on campaign finance reform, experts warn at continental summit

A prominent governance advocate has issued a stark warning to Ghana's two largest political parties, urging them to champion campaign finance reforms that could reshape how elections are contested and funded in the country.

Dr Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), made the appeal at a high-level continental conference on political financing currently underway in Accra, arguing that both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have a duty to prioritise democratic integrity over short-term political advantage.

The cycle of political hypocrisy

Dr Draman highlighted a troubling pattern in African politics: opposition parties loudly champion campaign finance reforms whilst lacking power, only to abandon these principles once they take office. This cyclical abandonment of reform commitments has left Ghana and other African nations vulnerable to the corrosive effects of unchecked political spending.

According to Dr Draman, a genuinely fair campaign financing regime would level the playing field, ensuring that all political actors—whether well-funded or not—have a reasonable opportunity to present their ideas and compete for votes. Currently, financial resources often outweigh policy substance, he argued, fundamentally distorting democratic competition.

Money over merit: the African democracy crisis

The growing financialisation of African politics represents a direct threat to democratic principles, Dr Draman warned. When money determines political power rather than ideas and competence, elected leaders become accountable to their financial backers instead of the voters who elected them. This misaligned accountability has cascading consequences for public service delivery across healthcare, education, and infrastructure—sectors where Ghanaians have long complained about underinvestment and poor outcomes.

The dynamic creates a vicious cycle: politicians beholden to wealthy financiers prioritise policies that benefit their donors, whilst broader public interests languish. Citizens effectively lose their democratic voice to the highest bidder.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana's democracy remains one of Africa's strongest, with competitive elections and relatively peaceful transfers of power between the NDC and NPP. However, this reputation is increasingly under strain as campaign spending escalates and the influence of wealthy individuals and corporate interests grows. Without decisive action on campaign finance regulation, Ghana risks sliding towards a system where only the wealthy can realistically contest elections.

The Accra summit represents a crucial opportunity for Ghana to lead continental reform efforts. Dr Draman specifically called for a comprehensive national law governing political campaign financing—a legal framework that would establish clear rules, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability measures. Such legislation would provide Ghanaian citizens with legal recourse if violations occur and give future governments a foundation upon which to build stronger democratic institutions.

The conference, hosted in the capital, is expected to produce an Accra Declaration with practical policy recommendations for African nations. However, Dr Draman expressed cautious skepticism about declarations without concrete follow-up, emphasising that Ghana and other countries must translate good intentions into binding legislation and enforcement action.

For Ghana's NDC and NPP, the moment presents a test of their commitment to democratic principles. Supporting genuine campaign finance reform whilst in opposition, and more importantly, maintaining that support after taking power, would signal a maturation of Ghanaian politics and a willingness to prioritise national democratic health over partisan advantage.