The Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has warned that the rising cost of politics across Africa is undermining democracy, fuelling corruption and weakening public trust in state institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialisation of Politics in Africa in Accra on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Prof Prempeh said contesting elections has become increasingly expensive, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to participate in politics.
"Across Africa, the cost of running for elective office is skyrocketing," he said.
Using Ghana as an example, he noted that the actual cost of contesting elections and even internal party positions could be much higher than existing estimates.
Prof Prempeh said unregulated political financing allows wealthy elites, business cartels and foreign interests to influence political parties and elections, sidelining women, young people and the middle class.
"Unregulated political financing allows wealthy elites, domestic cartels, and foreign interests to hijack political parties and our elections... transforming democracies into systems that serve the highest bidder rather than the general good," he stated.
He added that politicians often seek to recover huge campaign expenses through corruption after assuming office, while expensive elections also increase the risk of electoral violence and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
"The perception that politicians are bought by special interests destroys public trust in parliament, the judiciary, and the executive branches," he said.
Prof Prempeh said the three-day convening would culminate in the adoption of the Accra Declaration, a continental commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in political financing across Africa.
"We are not here to talk about reform. We are here to begin implementing and adopting," he stressed.
NA/AM
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