Ghana risks ‘criminal gangsters’ controlling state if political financing is unchecked – Sarpong

Mr. George Sarpong, a legal practitioner and journalist, has warned that Ghana risks having “criminal gangsters” controlling the state if the growing monetisation of politics is not urgently addressed.

He said excessive reliance on money in political competition could undermine the country’s democratic gains by shutting out citizens with good ideas, character, and genuine commitment to public service but without the financial resources to compete.

“We will develop this nation by decent character and good ideas,” Mr. Sarpong noted.

He was speaking at a media workshop on “Regulating Political Party Financing in Ghana” organised by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in Accra on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Mr. Sarpong observed that the media had a critical role to play in scrutinising the financial interests behind political campaigns and should investigate who financed campaigns, how much was spent, the sources of the funds, and the expectations attached to such financial support.

He said the issue was important because persons elected into public office took decisions that affected the economy, public services, the environment, and the overall development of the country.

Mr. Sarpong urged journalists to interrogate the proposed Draft Model Political Finance Law and help educate the public on its provisions.

The workshop formed part of CDD-Ghana’s efforts to build public understanding and support for reforms to Ghana’s political and campaign financing regime.

The programme, supported by the British High Commission, seeks to promote discussions around the proposed Draft Model Political Finance Law.

Mr. Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, said Ghana’s three decades of peaceful democratic transitions and competitive elections were significant achievements that needed to be protected.

He, however, said the increasing cost of political competition and gaps in campaign finance regulation posed threats to the integrity and sustainability of the country’s democracy.

Mr. Adu-Gyamfi said the growing monetisation of politics was creating barriers for capable but less-resourced citizens while contributing to opacity, weakening accountability, and increasing the risk of corruption.

He said although Ghana’s constitutional and legal framework provided a basis for regulating political financing, weaknesses in enforcement, disclosure requirements, donation limits, and expenditure controls had affected the effectiveness of the existing system.

He further noted that the proposed model legislation sought to strengthen transparency, regulate donations and expenditure, improve disclosure, and introduce stronger enforcement mechanisms.

Mr. Duke Mensah Opoku, Senior Political Officer at the British High Commission, said the United Kingdom remained committed to supporting Ghana’s democratic development and efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability.

He noted that Ghana had recorded eight consecutive peaceful elections and three transfers of power, describing the achievements as significant milestones.

Mr. Opoku, however, cautioned that the rising cost of political campaigns and opaque campaign funding could undermine those democratic gains.

He said the high cost of political contests was creating barriers for women, young people, and persons with disabilities seeking to participate in political leadership.

He also warned that weak regulation of political financing could create opportunities for illicit funds and undue influence, distort policy priorities, drain public resources, and weaken the social contract between citizens and the state.

“Together we can ensure that political parties serve the public interest, not private pockets,” he said.

Mr. William Nyarko, who presented on “Regulating Political Party Financing in Ghana,” said political parties occupied a special position in the country’s democratic system because they sought political power and ultimately influenced the management of state resources.

He said their activities must therefore be governed by clear rules that promote democratic principles, transparency, and accountability.

Mr. Nyarko identified nomination and filing fees, internal party elections, delegate mobilisation and other campaign-related activities as factors contributing to the increasing cost of political competition.

He also drew attention to a regulatory gap concerning individual candidates.

He said while political parties were subject to regulation, individual candidates who received campaign financing were not adequately covered by existing rules.

That situation, he said, could allow significant amounts of money to move through political campaigns without adequate public disclosure or accountability.

The workshop also highlighted the impact of the rising cost of political participation on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Participants said excessive campaign costs could exclude capable citizens without access to substantial financial resources from political competition.

They said the situation could ultimately narrow the range of citizens able to participate meaningfully in political leadership.

Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at CDD-Ghana, said Ghana could not afford to continue postponing reforms to political financing.

“If you don’t do it, the consequences for the state and the citizens are dire,” he said.

Dr. Asante said politicians who incurred substantial financial obligations to win elections could come under pressure to recover their investments after assuming public office.

That, he said, could create incentives for the diversion of public resources, inflated contracts, and decisions influenced by private financial interests rather than the public good.

“The state must regulate it,” he said, adding that Ghana should consider supporting aspects of internal party elections and political participation to reduce the financial burden on candidates.

CDD-Ghana has been consulting political parties, civil society organisations, media practitioners, governance experts, and citizens as part of efforts to build consensus around reforms to Ghana’s political and campaign financing framework.

The proposed Draft Model Political Finance Law includes measures on campaign expenditure ceilings, disclosure requirements, regulation of candidate financing, and stronger institutional oversight.

CDD-Ghana has also proposed an independent regulatory mechanism to monitor political finance activities, enforce compliance, and improve transparency.

The speakers urged the media to broaden political reporting to include scrutiny of the financial arrangements behind political campaigns.

They said journalists and citizens should ask who financed a campaign, how much was spent, the source of the funds, and whether financial contributions came with expectations of favours after an election.

The workshop formed part of the wider national conversation on strengthening Ghana’s political finance system and protecting the country’s democratic gains from the growing influence of money in politics.

Source:Joseph Kobla Wemakor