The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has called for urgent political-financing reforms and stronger accountability mechanisms within Ghana’s political parties amid recurring allegations of vote-buying and financial inducements in internal party elections.
The organisation says the growing concerns surrounding money politics threaten democratic integrity, undermine fair political competition and create significant barriers to the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities in political leadership.
In a press statement issued on October 26, 2026, Executive Director of GenCED, Esther Tawiah cited concerns surrounding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency executive elections held on October 24, as well as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executive elections conducted on July 11 and 12, 2026.
It also referenced allegations of financial inducements during the NPP presidential primaries on January 31, 2026, and the NDC’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primary on March 3, 2026, which attracted investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
GenCED stressed that the issue of money politics transcends political party affiliations and must be treated as a national democratic concern rather than a partisan controversy.
While acknowledging that allegations must be investigated fairly and that no individual should be presumed guilty without sufficient evidence, the organisation urged political parties to move beyond public condemnation and demonstrate a genuine commitment to electoral accountability.
Money politics threatens inclusive participation
Drawing on its research titled The Price to Participate: How Money in Politics Undermines Women and Youth Political Participation in Ghana, GenCED warned that financial demands, patronage networks and campaign expenditure are increasingly shaping access to political leadership.
According to the organisation, when cash and material inducements become instruments of political competition, financial strength risks taking precedence over leadership competence, integrity, policy ideas and commitment to public service.
It said this creates an uneven playing field, particularly for women, young people and persons with disabilities, who may lack access to wealthy sponsors and established political networks.
GenCED cautioned that capable aspirants from underrepresented groups could be discouraged from participating in internal party elections when success appears increasingly dependent on financial resources.
The organisation further noted that money-driven political competition could distort delegates’ choices, weaken accountability and erode public confidence in the processes through which political parties select their leaders.
Political parties urged to demonstrate accountability
GenCED has called on the leadership of all political parties to establish credible mechanisms for receiving complaints, investigating allegations of vote-buying and intimidation, and communicating findings transparently.
It also urged parties to ensure that disciplinary measures are applied impartially whenever misconduct is established, irrespective of the political influence or position of those involved.
The organisation called on relevant investigative and oversight institutions to examine credible evidence of alleged electoral offences within their respective mandates and take appropriate action.
It further identified clear electoral rules, accurate delegate registers, impartial election officials, transparent procedures and effective dispute-resolution mechanisms as essential safeguards for credible internal elections.
Six key recommendations for political-financing reforms
Beyond investigations and disciplinary action, GenCED argues that Ghana needs structural reforms to address the conditions that allow money politics to persist.
It has therefore proposed measures including stronger internal electoral regulations, transparent campaign-financing and expenditure disclosures, and a review of the legal and institutional framework governing political-party financing.
Other recommendations include removing financial and institutional barriers that disproportionately affect women, young people and persons with disabilities; strengthening voter and delegate education; and promoting impartial investigations and transparent reporting of outcomes.
The organisation has also called for cross-party dialogue involving political parties, state institutions and civil society organisations to develop practical, evidence-based reforms that protect the integrity of political competition.
Democracy must be built on ideas, not inducements
GenCED maintains that internal party elections are fundamental to democratic governance because they determine who leads political organisations, represents party members and ultimately influences national leadership.
It believes the credibility of these elections depends on the freedom of delegates to make independent choices, the ability of candidates to compete fairly and the existence of mechanisms to resolve complaints without intimidation or undue financial influence.
Reiterating its commitment to gender-responsive political-financing reforms and inclusive governance, GenCED called for a political environment in which leadership is determined by competence, integrity and public service rather than financial power.
It said Ghana’s democratic future must not be determined by who can spend the most money, but by who can demonstrate the capacity to lead responsibly and serve the public interest.
