By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Accra, Feb. 11, GNA – 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.
Dr Aziginaateeg, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said while Ghana remained one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, its electoral processes were increasingly being undermined by vote trading, self-enrichment and weak enforcement mechanisms.
He said many third-world democracies, including Ghana’s, were suffering a gradual dilution of democratic values as political participation shifted from public service to personal gain.
“Elections are increasingly resembling commercial transactions rather than civic duties. When money becomes the deciding factor, competent but financially constrained leaders are sidelined,” he stated.
Dr Aziginaateeg cited the recent Ayawaso East by-election as a reflection of recurring vulnerabilities within Ghana’s electoral architecture, noting that allegations of misconduct surrounding the exercise demanded independent investigation.
He commended Parliament for condemning alleged irregularities and calls for annulment but stressed that moral outrage alone was insufficient without strong enforcement mechanisms.
“Condemnation must be matched with the law. Without punitive consequences, the cycle will repeat itself,” he added.
He proposed the introduction of a comprehensive Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to criminalise electoral violence, vote buying, and other forms of misconduct.
He suggested that the legislation should impose strict penalties, including disqualification of candidates found culpable, fines of up to GH₵500,000 and custodial sentences ranging between five and ten years.
Such sanctions would serve as a deterrent and reinforce the seriousness of electoral integrity in Ghana’s democratic framework, he said.
Dr Aziginaateeg further recommended strengthening accountability structures by mandating independent investigations within seven days of any reported electoral infraction.
He proposed that either the Electoral Commission or a newly established Electoral Offences Tribunal be empowered to conduct swift, transparent probes to prevent politicisation of investigations.
Beyond punitive measures, he advocated public financing support for vetted, low-resource candidates to reduce the dominance of money in politics and level the playing field.
“When only the wealthy can compete, democracy loses its inclusiveness. Ethical and competent leaders must not be crowded out because they lack financial muscle,” he said.
He also called for institutional reforms, including auditing party financing systems and recalling government officials implicated in electoral wrongdoing, to restore public trust.
Dr Aziginaateeg said Ghana’s democracy must evolve from transactional politics to development-oriented governance, stressing that unchecked monetisation eroded public confidence and national progress.
He added that these reforms would not weaken Ghana’s democracy but rather would strengthen it and make 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 said.
Dr Aziginaateeg added that decisive legislative action, combined with sustained civic education and enforcement, would reset Ghana’s democratic trajectory and safeguard it for future generations.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo