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The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced plans to introduce a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) aimed at strengthening the regulation of political party financing in the country.
This revelation was made by Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC, during a conference on campaign financing transparency jointly organized by Transparency International and the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
According to Dr. Asare, the proposed CI seeks to address current gaps in campaign finance laws and improve compliance with Article 55, Clause 14 of the 1992 Constitution. The clause mandates political parties to publicly declare their revenues and assets, including their sources, and to publish audited accounts annually.
“Looking at the general weaknesses inherent in the current legal framework, we believe there is a pressing need for a new, more stringent Constitutional Instrument,” Dr. Asare stated.
“This new CI will compel parties to disclose the sources of their funding and enhance transparency in campaign financing.”
The Electoral Commission is working closely with the Attorney General’s Department and other relevant state institutions to draft the CI and ensure its timely introduction in Parliament.
Dr. Asare acknowledged the challenges in enforcing current laws, noting that only the two major political parties—New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC)—consistently meet the EC’s financial reporting requirements. He cautioned that strict enforcement of existing regulations might lead to the disqualification of several smaller parties, potentially limiting the country’s political diversity.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Asare emphasized the EC’s commitment to ensuring accountability, adding, “We believe this new instrument will mark a significant departure from what we have seen in the past. It will be a crucial step towards building a more transparent and credible democratic process.”
The initiative has been welcomed by civil society organizations advocating for electoral reforms, who view it as a step toward curbing the influence of undisclosed money in Ghanaian politics.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Bernard Lav