$200m needed to win presidency in Ghana

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has revealed that the cost of winning a presidential election in Ghana has soared to about $200 million, raising concerns over the future of the country’s democratic process.

Speaking at an Open Society event in Accra, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, warned that the ever-rising financial demands of elections risk shutting out competent leaders who lack access to vast 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 said.

He cautioned that Ghana’s democratic and developmental aspirations are being undermined as politics increasingly becomes 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 stressed.

The revelation adds to calls for urgent campaign financing reforms, as civil society organisations continue to push for stronger regulations to promote fairness, accountability, and inclusivity in Ghana’s political system.

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