The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has revealed that the cost of winning a presidential election in Ghana has surged to an estimated $200 million, raising fresh concerns about the sustainability and inclusiveness of the country’s democratic system.
Speaking at an Open Society event in Accra, CDD-Ghana’s Executive Director, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, warned that the soaring financial demands risk sidelining competent leaders without access to vast financial resources.
“I think you need about $200 million to win a presidential contest. How many of you here are ever going to be in that category or cohort of candidates? Even at the parliamentary level or at the primary level, it is nearly impossible for many of you,” Prof. Prempeh stated.
He cautioned that such trends threaten Ghana’s democratic and developmental aspirations by turning politics into the preserve of the wealthy and well-connected.
“We cannot have that kind of democracy and expect it to be developmental. So, we need to worry about our campaign financing and regulating our internal party democracy,” he added.
Civil society organisations, including CDD-Ghana, have long advocated for stronger campaign finance regulations to promote fairness, accountability, and inclusivity in Ghana’s political process.
