Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has expressed deep concern about the growing financial burden of contesting elections in Ghana, warning that it threatens the inclusiveness and sustainability of the country’s democratic process.
Speaking at an Open Society event in Accra, he revealed that the cost of winning a presidential election in Ghana has now risen to about $200 million.
“I think you need about $200 million to win a presidential contest.
“How many of you here are ever going to be in that category or cohort of candidates? Even at the parliamentary level or at the primary level, it is nearly impossible for many of you,” he cautioned.
Professor Prempeh stressed that such exorbitant costs risk shutting out qualified leaders who may not have access to vast resources, leaving the political space dominated by a wealthy few.
“We cannot have that kind of democracy and expect it to be developmental. So, we need to worry about our campaign financing and regulating our internal party democracy,” he added.
