The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for the creation of an independent body to regulate the financing of political parties and election campaigns in the country. The initiative is intended to close gaps in the current system and limit the monetization of politics, MyJoyOnline reports.
CDD-Ghana programme officer Joseph Oti Frimpong spoke about the proposals at a media seminar on regulating party financing in Kumasi. The event was organized by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development with funding from the British High Commission.
Proposed powers
CDD-Ghana’s model bill provides for the establishment of an Independent Electoral Financing and Enforcement Authority. It would regulate, supervise and track political financing, conduct investigations and audits, ensure disclosure, summon witnesses, impose fines and other sanctions, and refer cases for further prosecution.
Under the draft, all transactions related to election campaigns should be conducted through specifically designated bank accounts. Such accounts are proposed to be subject to periodic and forensic audits.
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Candidate reports and spending limits
The new body could also set spending caps for internal party primaries, by-elections and general elections. Geographic conditions, population size, infrastructure and the type of election are proposed to be taken into account when determining the limits.
The draft provides that candidates would submit financial reports on campaign income and expenditure, and these reports would be published online. The model bill also includes contribution limits, restrictions on anonymous donations above a specified threshold, and transparency rules for third-party spending.
According to Frimpong, current legislation mainly regulates party activities but does not sufficiently cover candidates and campaign financing. CDD-Ghana lists high election campaign costs, unregulated private financing, insufficient disclosure, vote-buying and the misuse of state resources among the problems.
The Constitutional Review Commission had also previously proposed creating an independent registrar and regulator of political parties and campaigns. Ghana’s government has agreed in principle with the need for an independent body, but prefers a Political Parties Regulatory Commission to be created by ordinary legislation. The government also recognized the need for legislation on election campaign financing, including spending limits, disclosure thresholds and oversight mechanisms.
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