The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed concern over the rising cost of presidential elections, warning that Ghana’s democracy could become the preserve of the wealthy.
At an Open Society forum in Accra, the centre’s Executive Director, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, revealed that securing the presidency now requires an estimated $200 million.
According to him, such financial demands effectively shut out competent leaders who lack vast personal resources or access to big-money backers.
“You now need about $200 million to win a presidential contest. How many people can ever realistically afford that? Even at the parliamentary and primary levels, the barriers are already far too high,” Prof. Prempeh said.
He cautioned that if political office is restricted to those with wealth and connections, the country’s democratic and development agenda will be compromised.
“We cannot sustain a democracy that excludes capable voices simply because of money. That is why campaign financing and stronger regulation of internal party practices must be treated as urgent national priorities,” he added.
