The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed concern over the rising cost of contesting presidential elections, warning that the country’s democracy risks being captured by wealthy elites.
Speaking at an Open Society forum in Accra, the think tank’s Executive Director, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, revealed that it now requires an estimated $200 million to run a successful presidential campaign in Ghana.
“You now need about $200 million to win a presidential contest. How many of you can ever realistically be in that category? Even at the parliamentary and primary levels, the barriers are already far too high for many,” Prof Prempeh observed.
He argued that such financial demands make it nearly impossible for capable but less resourced leaders to compete, adding that if politics becomes the preserve of the wealthy and well-connected, Ghana’s democratic and developmental aspirations will be gravely undermined.
“We cannot have that kind of democracy and expect it to be developmental. That is why campaign financing and regulation of internal party democracy must become urgent national priorities,” he stressed.
