GenCED calls for political-financing reforms over vote-buying allegations

The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has called for reforms to address alleged vote-buying and financial inducements in Ghana’s political party elections, warning that money politics threatens fair competition and limits the participation of women and young people.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 26, the organisation said concerns surrounding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency executive elections held on October 24 and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executive elections held on July 11 and 12 highlight the need to tackle the problem as a national democratic challenge.

GenCED said allegations of financial inducements had emerged in contests involving both major political parties, making political-financing reform an issue that should transcend partisan interests.

The organisation cited the NPP presidential primaries held on January 31, 2026, and the NDC’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primary on March 3, 2026, which attracted investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“These developments demonstrate why political-financing reform must be a national priority rather than a partisan debate,” the statement said.

GenCED said its research, titled The Price to Participate: How Money in Politics Undermines Women and Youth Political Participation in Ghana, highlights how financial demands, patronage networks, campaign expenditure and the informal costs of political participation can restrict access to political leadership.

The organisation warned that when financial inducements dominate internal elections, candidates with access to wealthy sponsors and established patronage networks could gain an advantage over those with fewer resources.

“When cash and material inducements become instruments of political competition, the ability to mobilise financial resources risks overshadowing leadership capacity, policy ideas, integrity and commitment to public service,” it said.

GenCED added that women, young people and persons with disabilities could face additional barriers in an already unequal political environment.

To address the concerns, the organisation urged political parties and relevant stakeholders to strengthen preventive measures and enforcement.

Its recommendations include voter and delegate education, independent scrutiny of internal elections, impartial investigations and transparent reporting of outcomes.

It also called for cross-party dialogue involving political parties, state institutions and civil society organisations to develop practical, evidence-based reforms to protect the integrity of political competition.

“These measures must become priorities rather than promises made in response to controversy,” the statement said.

GenCED stressed that internal party elections are central to democratic governance because they determine who leads political organisations, represents their members and influences decisions that shape national leadership.

It said the credibility of these processes depends on delegates being able to make free choices, candidates competing fairly and complaints being resolved without intimidation or undue financial influence.

“Ghana’s democratic future must not be determined by who can spend the most, but by who can lead with integrity, competence, accountability and a genuine commitment to the public good,” the organisation said.

The statement comes as political parties continue their internal reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general elections.

GenCED said it would continue advocating gender-responsive political-financing reforms and inclusive governance systems to enable all Ghanaians, particularly women and young people, to participate meaningfully in political decision-making.