In August 2019, Star Ghana Foundation launched a call for proposals and awarded grants to 28 organizations across the country, all aimed at achieving transparent, credible and peaceful elections. STAR Ghana Foundation, however, acknowledges and recognizes that, beyond the individual projects, there are key critical issues that need to be tackled to promote good governance and to ensure long-term electoral credibility. One of the critical issues identified is Election Campaign Financing.
As part of STAR Ghana Foundation’s Convening, Catalysing, Coordinating and Learning (3Cs and L) approach, the Foundation in partnership with CDD-Ghana, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and Elections Community of Practice and Learning (ECoPL) organised a regional (northern sector) dialogue on political party campaign finance reforms in Ghana. The event, which is the first in a series of four to be organised across the country was held on Wednesday 4th March 2020 in Tamale.
Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of STAR Ghana Foundation in his address, stated that: the purpose of the event was to facilitate dialogue with Stakeholders on Election Campaign financing and build consensus on the way forward for financing election campaigns in Ghana. He urged stakeholders to come on board to address issues that prevent our efforts as a nation to strengthen our democracy. He said:
“We can’t eradicate Corruption without properly diagnosing and addressing issues that prevent efforts to strengthen our democracy: Cost and financing of political campaigns; Influencing manifestos to reduce inequality to improve quality of life and reduce insecurity nation-wide; and confronting and addressing Vigilantism. “
Professor Henry Kwesi Prempeh, the Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) delivered the keynote address. He encouraged citizens and the state to demand accountability from political parties on their campaign expenditure to deepen the democratic process and stability in the country.
Prof Prempeh noted that it was time for citizens to question Politicians on how their campaign finance were generated to enhance the response against corruption and end the rising tension of violence in the conduct of general elections in the country.
“Beyond the general recognition of corruption as a manifestation of Campaign financing arrangements, there is a need to equally interrogate the more fundamental systemic and socio-cultural conditions that make our democracy susceptible to the growing influence of money”. He added.
In attendance were representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, religious leaders, students and the private sector, state agencies and the media.
The next in the regional events will be held on Tuesday 11th March 2020 in Kumasi. This will be followed by another regional edition in Takoradi on Wednesday 18th March 2020. Building on the recommendations from the regional dialogues, a national dialogue will be held on Tuesday 7th April 2020 in Accra to consolidate the recommendations for the way forward in addressing issues around Election campaign financing in Ghana.