Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Local Governance Network (LOGNet) have called on the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure political finance reforms to consolidate Ghana’s democratic dispensation.
They made the call at a capacity workshop for members of LOGNet in the middle belt to discuss political financing with a focus on proposing solutions to curb unregulated funding.
The workshop formed part of the Political Finance Reform Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Political Accountability Activity through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). It is being implemented by LOGNet and the goal is to stimulate conversations on political finance reforms in Ghana.
Mr. Christopher Dapaah, National Coordinator of LOGNet, said the 2024 elections in Ghana marked a significant milestone in the country’s democratic journey, adding that the successful conduct of the elections underscored Ghana’s status as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
He, however, expressed concern about funding of political campaigns in Ghana in recent years, stressing that the way political campaigns were funded could pose serious threat to democracy.
He said political financing in Ghana lacked transparency and heavily dependent on undisclosed sources, making it very difficult to trace the origin of the funds.
“The opacity raises questions about the influence of hidden interests on the political decisions and messing the credibility of leadership and governance,” he stated.
He emphasised that the cost of running for political office continued to escalate, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and the influence of money in politics, indicating that the 2024 elections witnessed much more monetization approach than ever.
He called on all CSOs and other development-minded supporters of political parties to join the advocacy for political finance reforms to curb the illegal financing which remained a splotch on the electoral system in Ghana.
Mr. Dapaah submitted that political finance reform was crucial to addressing economic challenges and ensuring sustainable democracy and called on the Government and all constitutional institutions to show commitment to the reforms.
Mr. Daniel Alimo, a Local Governance Expert and Consultant who led the discussions said disclosure of political donations and expenditures could reduce corruption.
He said it was important for political actors to make financial flows more transparent while allowing oversight bodies to conduct regular audits to ensure political funds were used appropriately.
The CSOs also made a strong case for public funding of political parties and candidates to reduce their dependence on private donations, thereby promoting a level playing field.
They further suggested a limit on campaign expenditures to prevent excessive spending and for ensuring fair competition. It was their view that with less financial pressure, politicians could focus more on policy-making and governance rather than fundraising.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
