CDD Ghana demands political finance reforms to curb rising campaign costs

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has called for urgent political finance reforms in Ghana, warning that the lack of spending limits and public funding has turned elections into contests where “the highest bidder wins.” Research presented by Zakaria Tanko Musah indicates that the cost of contesting a parliamentary seat has increased 500% over the last 12 years, rising from GH₵150,000 in 2012 to GH₵750,000 in 2024.

CDD identified several regulatory gaps in the Political Parties Act, 2000, including the absence of spending caps, lack of real-time donor disclosure, and the inability of the Electoral Commission to track contributions. These loopholes are cited as drivers for vote buying and the exclusion of youth from the political process.

In conjunction with these calls for reform, concerns have been raised regarding the declining standards of Ghanaian media. Critics argue that the industry has shifted from ethical journalism toward clickbait and propaganda, emphasizing the need for media houses to reclaim their role as watchdogs and support accountability through the CDD Model Bill, which proposes a GH₵2M cap for presidential campaigns.