Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mary Awelana Addah, is advocating for a six-month cap on political campaigns in Ghana, as part of broader reforms to promote transparency and reduce the influence of money in politics.
Speaking at the maiden National Dialogue organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Accra, Madam Addah stressed the urgent need to regulate campaign financing and duration, arguing that Ghana’s current political framework lacks the strength to effectively manage these issues.
“If we can regularise the space of campaigning, particularly with our political actors, it helps ground our politics in law,” she noted. “The current framework does not exhaustively address these concerns, so a stronger regime is needed.”
She further emphasized the importance of full disclosure of campaign funds, including the sources and total amounts spent by political parties and candidates.
According to her, civil society organisations have already initiated steps toward reform, including consultations with legal experts to draft a bill aimed at establishing a clear legal framework for campaign finance regulation and time limits.
“Reducing the campaign period will ultimately lower the financial burden on political actors and level the playing field. You won’t need to raise enormous funds to campaign over two or more years,” she explained.
The proposed reforms, she believes, would strengthen democratic accountability and ensure that politics remains driven by ideas rather than financial muscle.
