THE Independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has initiated a Private Members’ bill to amend the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) to introduce a political campaign financing regime and to provide for related matters.
The object of the bill, which was presented to the Clerk-to-Parliament last Wednesday, is to regulate the sources of campaign funds to ensure transparency and legality.
It also seeks to establish limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, and introduce mandatory financial disclosure and auditing requirements.
Besides, the bill also aims to strengthen oversight and enforcement mechanisms under the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
“This framework seeks to restore fairness, curb corruption and enhance public confidence in Ghana’s democratic process,” he said.
Reducing monetisation
In a statement issued last Tuesday, Mr Frimpong expressed optimism that the bill would regulate political financing to promote transparency and fair competition.
“This will promote openness in political financing, reduce financial barriers for women and youth participation, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and public trust and reduce corruption and monetisation of politics,” he said.
Escalating campaign cost
Mr Frimpong expressed concern that political competition in Ghana was increasingly being driven by financial muscle rather than competence, ideas or integrity.
As a result, he said women, youth and persons with limited resources were “priced out of meaningful participation in politics”.
“For instance, women held only 15 per cent of parliamentary seats in 2016,” he stated.
The Asante Akim North MP also lamented how corruption and vote-buying had become rampant in Ghana’s politics due to the absence of financial regulation, encouraging vote-buying and illicit funding.
“Allegations during the 2026 New Patriotic Party presidential primary campaign held on January 31, 2026, and the NDC Ayawaso East parliamentary primary contests held on February 7, 2026, now before the Office of the Special Prosecutor, underscore this challenge,” he said.
He pointed out that the Political Parties Act lacked disclosure, auditing and sanction mechanisms necessary to ensure financial integrity.
Reducing undue influence in politics
Explaining the rationale for initiating the bill, Mr Frimpong said globally, more than 180 countries regulated political finance to promote transparency and fair competition.
“According to the International IDEA Political Finance Database (2024) and Transparency International (2023), key best practices include limits on private contributions, public funding mechanisms to level the playing field, expenditure caps and disclosure requirements and independent oversight and enforcement,” he said.
He added that countries such as Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom had adopted those principles to curb corruption and reduce undue influence in politics.
“Ghana’s growing cost of politics makes similar reform both urgent and necessary,” he said.
Regulation of campaign financing
To regulate campaign financing, Mr Frimpong proposed that only citizens and entities registered in Ghana be permitted to make contributions, while foreign and anonymous donations be strictly prohibited.
“Individual contributions capped at GH₵500,000 for presidential and GH₵100,000 for parliamentary and campaign expenditure must be capped at GH₵5million for presidential and GH₵500,000 for parliamentary,” he said.
Background
Giving a background behind the decision to initiate the bill, the MP recalled that since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992, Ghana has held nine successful general elections, with four peaceful transfers of power.
That democratic progress, however, faced a growing challenge in terms of the rising cost of politics.
He said the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) regulated the registration and functioning of political parties but remained silent on campaign financing.
As a result, he said, there was no legal framework limiting campaign expenditure, capping contributions or mandating detailed disclosures.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
