$150m needed to win presidential election in Ghana – CDD report

A new report by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has raised serious concerns about the rising cost of winning elections in Ghana, highlighting the potential threats to democratic governance and the country’s fight against corruption.

The report reveals that securing victory in both presidential and parliamentary elections now costs approximately $150 million, along with an additional 10 million Ghanaian cedis.

This growing financial burden is linked to the increasing monetization of the electoral process, a trend that, according to CDD-Ghana, is fostering corruption and undermining accountability in public office.

Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Programmes at CDD-Ghana, expressed his alarm during a presentation to the Constitutional Review Committee.

He called for a shift towards electing leaders with integrity, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing public welfare to drive national development.

“We must begin electing leaders with integrity and orienting them towards the public interest, as this focus on public welfare also drives development,” Dr. Asante stated.

He also noted that political parties should not be left to regulate their internal processes independently, advocating for clear provisions to disqualify candidates who violate regulations and mandatory asset declarations for those running for office.

Dr. Asante stressed that improved oversight of political parties and the Electoral Commission is necessary to strengthen the electoral process.

His remarks were made at a meeting of the Constitutional Review Committee held over the weekend.

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