The member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has initiated private member’s bill to amend the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) to introduce campaign financing regime, and to provide for related matters.
It may be recalled that since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992, Ghana has held nine successful general elections, with four peaceful transfers of power.
This democratic progress, however, faces a growing challenge: the rising cost of politics.The Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) regulates the registration and functioning of political parties but remains silent on campaign financing.
As a result, there is no legal framework limiting campaign expenditure, capping contributions, or mandating detailed disclosures.Political campaigns now rely heavily on private, informal, and often opaque sources of funding.
The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana, 2025) estimates that the cost of contesting presidential elections has risen to approximately USD 200 million, while the cost of parliamentary campaigns rose by 59% between 2012 and 2016 (STAR-Ghana Foundation, 2018).
These trends threaten democratic inclusivity and accountability.
