News:
September 16, 2026
The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has issued a strong call for the enactment of specific laws to criminalize the monetization of intra-party elections in Ghana.
Speaking at a forum organized by a coalition of selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Accra on Wednesday, the lawmaker emphasized that the current practice of using money to influence delegate voting poses a significant threat to the nation’s democracy.
The event, which brought together political analysts, governance experts, and civil society actors, focused on the theme of “Political Party and Elections Financing in Ghana.”
In his address, Mr. Acquah shared his perspective on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the delegate system for primaries. He noted that while the ruling provides a framework for internal party democracy, it does not go far enough to address the underlying issue of financial inducement.
“The Supreme Court ruling is a step in the right direction, but it is not a silver bullet,” Mr. Acquah told the gathering. “We can have the most transparent delegate system in the world, but if a candidate can simply buy their way to victory, we have failed.”
He argued that the monetization of politics starts at the party level. According to him, when candidates spend huge sums of money to convince delegates, they inevitably seek to recoup their investments once in office, leading to corruption and a lack of accountability.
“It is time we moved beyond guidelines and moral suasion. We need concrete legislation,” he urged. “Parliament must consider a bill that makes the monetization of intra-party elections a criminal offense, punishable by law. This is essential for curbing the commercialization of our politics.”
The forum concluded with a consensus among the participating CSOs to intensify advocacy for campaign finance reform, urging the Electoral Commission and Parliament to collaborate on creating a legal framework that ensures a level playing field for all political actors.
Mr. Acquah reiterated his commitment to championing this cause in Parliament, stating that the integrity of Ghana’s democracy depends on the transparency of its political financing.
Ghanamps.com