The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has announced plans to propose legislation aimed at controlling political campaign financing.
According to the Executive Secretary of the GII, Mary Addah, financing political campaigns had been a major contributor to corruption, which, when not managed, could reap the country’s numerous resources.
Citing concerns over increasing malpractices such as vote buying during elections, she stressed the need for a collaborative approach to combatting such practices.
Speaking at the 14th Commonwealth Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa held in Accra on Wednesday, Madam Adda said, “We have been monitoring abuse of incumbency and electoral corruption over the years since 2008. This is a subject we focus on, especially during elections. We are currently collaborating to propose a bill for regulating campaign financing, which is a significant factor driving corruption in Ghana”.
“Elections have become very costly, particularly now because citizens have decided that it is crucial to claim their due during these phases, as that is when they can get it,” she stated.
The GII Executive Secretary also advocated for a comprehensive asset declaration system to address corruption issues among public officeholders.
The cost of political campaigns has been on the ascendency since 2016.
Studies have shown that a parliamentary aspirant in Ghana must pump in a minimum of 600,000 dollars to fund campaigns.
The reports indicate the cost of political campaigns increased from 300,000 dollars to 693,000 dollars in 2016 and 2020 respectively, representing a 59% increase.