The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has successfully concluded a nationwide series of regional fora aimed at building consensus around reforms to regulate political and campaign financing in Ghana.
Held between February 25 and March 12, 2026, the ten regional engagements formed part of CDD-Ghana’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in the country’s electoral process. The consultations were supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.
The fora provided a platform for a broad range of stakeholders, including political party representatives, civil society organizations, governance experts, traditional and religious leaders, media practitioners, and citizens, to deliberate on a Draft Model Political Financing Law developed by CDD-Ghana, as well as proposals by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) aimed at addressing the growing influence of money in politics.
The regional consultations were held across the country, beginning in Wa, Sunyani, and Cape Coast on February 25, followed by forums in Bolgatanga, Kumasi, and Takoradi on March 2. The final round of engagements took place in Tamale, Koforidua, and Dambai on March 9, with the series concluding in Ho on March 12.
Across all ten regions, participants expressed concern about the rising cost of elections and the increasing monetization of political competition in Ghana. Many stakeholders noted that excessive campaign spending, opaque sources of political funding, and weak enforcement of existing laws threaten electoral integrity and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
Discussions during the fora focused on key reform proposals contained in the Draft Model Political Financing Law. These include the introduction of spending limits for political campaigns, mandatory disclosure of sources of funding, periodic financial reporting by political parties and candidates, and stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with political finance regulations.
Stakeholders also examined gaps in Ghana’s current legal framework, particularly under the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), which largely regulates political parties but provides limited oversight over individual candidates’ campaign financing activities. Experts emphasized that addressing these gaps is essential to preventing illicit funding and reducing opportunities for corruption in politics.
One of the recurring themes across the regional consultations was the need for stronger institutional oversight of political party and campaign financing. Participants widely supported proposals for the establishment of an independent regulatory body dedicated to monitoring political finance activities, enforcing compliance, and ensuring transparency in campaign spending.
Stakeholders also stressed that effective regulation of political financing could help level the playing field in elections by reducing the dominance of wealth in political competition. Several participants noted that the increasing cost of electoral campaigns often discourages women, young people, and persons with disabilities from contesting elections, thereby limiting inclusivity in political participation.
CDD-Ghana developed the Draft Model Political Financing Law as part of its broader efforts to address systemic drivers of vote-buying, corruption, and the monetization of Ghana’s electoral politics. The draft law has been reviewed by experts and will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Department for consideration as part of potential legislative reforms. The insights and recommendations gathered from the regional fora will be inculcated in the Draft Model Law and inform ongoing policy advocacy efforts aimed at advancing comprehensive political finance reform in Ghana.
