By Dorcas Stephens
Accra, Jan. 29, GNA—Madam Esther Tawiah, Executive Director of the Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has urged political parties to address vote buying as part of a broader plan to eliminate internal financial barriers.
She has also called for the establishment of transparent internal party financing that would support women and youth candidates during primaries and general elections.
Speaking at a project launch in Accra, Madam Tawiah observed that women and youth in the political sphere struggled to raise funds to finance their pursuit of higher leadership roles.
The event was aimed at promoting inclusive political participation through campaign financial reforms and how money in politics had undermined the participation of women and youth in Ghana’s politics.
She said it was more difficult for women to get sponsorship because of society’s perception that leadership was a man’s role.
Madam Tawiah urged government to review and expand the Affirmative Action Act, 2024, to grant women greater decision-making power in steering the affairs of the country, and to ensure that more women and youth involved in politics could access a safer, more effective political career.
“Vote buying mechanism does not favour women. Women are the engineers,” she added.
Mr Gilbert Sam, Consultant at GenCED, said transparent and open selection processes helped women and youth to grasp opportunities to participate and attain higher political roles.
He said these opportunities unraveled capabilities and contributions of women and youth candidates who were previously excluded in party leadership due to financial barriers.
“Adopting internal gender and youth inclusive policies will address both financial and non financial barriers within party politics,” he said.
Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Hussain, former Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party, said political parties should put mechanisms in place to cut off filing fees for women and youth to enable them participate fully in party primaries and general elections.
She said political parties should adapt to the Affirmative Action to overcome the obstacle of high filing fees and broaden the capacity of women and youth to participate in political leadership.
“We have allowed the whole system to become very loose in such a way that money can just come in from anywhere without questioning.”
“Massive education and awareness creation will ensure that political parties adapt to the Affirmative Action Law that has been passed, ”she added.
GenCED, through its report findings, seeks to reduce the financial barriers faced by women and youth in the political space and to promote collective action and advocacy by strengthening grassroots demand for fairer political participation.
It encourages political parties, civil society organisations, academia and development partners to reflect on practical and inclusive approaches to political financing reform.
The Organisation also urges the public to support collective action and advocacy by raising awareness and strengthening grassroots demand for equitable political participation.
GNA
29 Jan. 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong
