The Draft Model Bill on Political Finance in Ghana is intended to address the growing influence of money in the nation’s electoral and political processes. 

The engagement, which formed part of a series being organised nationwide in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), sought to promote public understanding of the proposed legislation, highlight its key provisions, and solicit citizens’ feedback to help refine it. 

Held in Takoradi, the programme provided a platform for citizens, political actors, civil society organisations, youth groups and key regulatory institutions, among others, to examine the content, implications and enforcement mechanisms of the proposed legislation. 

Mr Joseph Oti Frimpong, Programmes Officer at CDD-Ghana, speaking at the event, said Ghana’s democracy was considered one of the best in Africa; however, there were challenges in its practice. 

According to him, one of the major problems was the monetisation of the political landscape and the absence of a comprehensive legal framework to regulate political party financing in Ghana. 

He said to address these issues, CDD-Ghana had developed the Draft Model Bill on Political Finance in Ghana to bridge gaps in existing legal frameworks, such as the lack of spending limits for political parties, absence of contribution limits to parties, and the non-regulation of candidates, among others. 

Mr Frimpong stated that feedback received from the engagement would be compiled, fine-tuned and submitted to the Attorney-General to support the development of a comprehensive political party financing bill for the country, consistent with international best practice. 

Mr Victor Brobbey, Deputy Chairperson in charge of General Services at the NCCE, said vote-buying and the corrupting influence of money had become worrying features of the country’s electoral culture. 

“Silence, indifference and social acceptance have allowed these practices to persist, even when many Ghanaians privately condemn them,” he noted. 

He stated that once politics became transactional, public office risked being treated as an investment that must generate returns, making it harder to sustain a culture of genuine public service and accountability. 

Mr Brobbey said: “The NCCE strongly supports the initiative by CDD-Ghana. Reforms of this magnitude cannot rest on institutions alone; an informed and engaged citizenry is its strongest foundation.” 

He urged citizens and delegates to reject inducements, demand substance over patronage, and hold leaders accountable long after campaigns were over to ensure shared prosperity. 

Participants at the event took turns to share their views and suggestions on the draft bill.