By Kingsley Mamore, GNA
Dambai (O/R), March 10, GNA- The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has intensified efforts to build public support for legislation to regulate political party financing, engaging stakeholders in the Oti Region on a draft Political Finance Bill.
The bill aims to curb the growing monetisation of the country’s electoral and political processes by introducing stricter regulatory and accountability measures.
The consultation forms part of a broader national series organised in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The draft bill seeks to promote transparency and accountability in political financing, reduce the influence of money in politics, and ensure that political parties and candidates adhere to strict financial reporting requirements.
Mr Joseph Oti Frimpong, Programmes Officer at CDD-Ghana, said the draft bill sought to address critical gaps in the current system, including the absence of spending limits for political parties, the lack of caps on political donations and limited oversight of candidates’ campaign financing.
He explained that the bill would also establish an independent electoral commission to oversee political financing, introduce penalties for non-compliance, and provide for public funding for political parties.
The forum brought together political party representatives, civil society organisations, youth groups, regulatory bodies, media, and members of the public to examine the draft bill’s content, implications, and enforcement mechanisms.
Participants shared suggestions and concerns on the draft bill contributing to ongoing efforts to reinforce transparency and accountability in Ghana’s political financing system.
The discussions focused on the need for effective enforcement mechanisms, the role of citizens in monitoring political financing, and the importance of transparency in campaign financing.
Mr Frimpong described vote-buying and the corrupting influence of money in elections as worrying features of Ghana’s political culture.
He cautioned that when politics becomes transactional, public office risks being treated as an investment expected to yield financial returns, thereby undermining public service, transparency, and accountability.
The views gathered from regional consultations would be consolidated and fine-tuned before submission to the Attorney-General to support the development of a robust political party financing law aligned with international best practices.
The CDD-Ghana and NCCE are urging citizens to reject inducements, prioritise issue-based politics over patronage, and hold elected leaders accountable beyond election periods to strengthen Ghana’s democratic governance and promote shared prosperity.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei