The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed deep concern over the skyrocketing cost of contesting presidential elections, cautioning that the country’s democracy risks falling under the control of the wealthy elite.
Speaking at an Open Society forum in Accra, the think tank’s Executive Director, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, disclosed that it now requires an estimated $200 million to mount a successful presidential campaign in Ghana.
“You now need about $200 million to win a presidential contest. How many of you can ever realistically be in that category? Even at the parliamentary and primary levels, the barriers are already far too high for many,” Prof. Prempeh said.
He stressed that the growing financial demands of electoral politics make it nearly impossible for competent but less-resourced individuals to compete, warning that such a system undermines inclusivity and weakens Ghana’s democratic foundation.
According to him, if politics becomes the exclusive preserve of the wealthy and politically connected, the nation’s democratic and developmental goals will be gravely compromised.
“We cannot have that kind of democracy and expect it to be developmental. That is why campaign financing and regulation of internal party democracy must become urgent national priorities,” Prof. Prempeh emphasised.
The remarks add to growing public debate over the monetisation of Ghana’s political space, with calls for reforms to level the playing field and protect democracy from the grip of money-driven politics.
Source – My News Ghana
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