Failed leadership fuels monetisation of politics – Prof. Kobby Mensah

Professor Kobby Mensah, a political marketing strategist, asserts that the prevailing challenges of the monetisation of politics in Ghana are due to failed leadership.

He contends that the inability of political leaders in the country to fulfill their democratic mandates has compelled them to "induce" the electorate with money.

"The job that we give to political leaders in the country comes with clear mandates that they are supposed to perform. When they still want to cling to political power, they have to present themselves to the citizens to renew their mandate.

"I do not agree that the people are actually demanding the money; it is the leaders who have failed to exercise their mandate.

"Since they want to cling to power, they mobilise resources to induce the voters," he stated during an X-Space discussion.

This event was organised and moderated by Citizens for Fair Politics, a social movement campaigning against vote-buying ahead of the 2024 General Election.

The advocacy group, operating under the motto "Sell your vote; mortgage your future," aims to engage in a series of policy discussions online and in person to minimise the monetisation of Ghana's politics.

The online discussion was monitored by a considerable number of Ghanaian youth who asked questions and shared insights on how to minimise the monetisation of Ghanaian politics.

Ghana has been practising multiparty democracy since the creation of a new constitution in 1992 and has successfully held eight elections.

In the run-up to the 2024 elections, the two major political parties have organised internal elections to present suitable candidates for parliamentary and presidential elections.

The process was marred by incessant accusations levelled against candidates that they had induced party delegates with money to vote in their favour.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have bemoaned the emerging trend of the monetisation of Ghana's politics.

According to the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), it will cost no less than $100 million to win a presidential election in Ghana, while parliamentarians also need at least $4 million to win elections.

These challenges are attributed to the high cost of elections, which is exacerbated by the monetisation of politics.

Prof. Mensah remarked that the habit of inducing voters during elections is a result of the absence of political consciousness and ideology among the voting population.

He called for deliberate efforts among the electorate to appeal to their conscience in the course of electing leaders by emphasizing competence over financial influence.

"For me, to end this challenge, it is about the citizens responding to their conscience. Voting is a conscientious activity, and if you do not want to go against your conscience, you do not necessarily take the money from these politicians.

"If you take the money, you have agreed not to vote in a particular way. If you appeal to your ideology, you will not take money to vote," he explained.

He also urged the media to probe and unravel how political parties finance their campaigns.