CDD-Ghana pushes for Legislative Instrument to regulate political campaign activities

Sunyani (Bono), March 2, – Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for the passage of a Legislative Instrument (LI) to regulate political campaign activities in the country.

Mr Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, said such a framework was necessary to address excessive campaign financing, abuse of incumbency and pressure on the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

He explained that a clearly defined regulatory regime would help safeguard electoral integrity and strengthen Ghana’s growing democratic system.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi made the remarks at a Bono Regional stakeholders’ forum in Sunyani to deliberate on a draft model proposed by CDD-Ghana. The forum was organised in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The event aimed to enhance public understanding of the proposed bill, outline its key provisions and gather feedback from citizens to refine the draft.

According to Mr Adu-Gyamfi, unlike many African countries where campaign periods are clearly defined, Ghana experiences what he described as a “continuous four-year cycle” of campaign activities, which he argued does not promote democratic consolidation or national development.

He said restricting campaign activities to a specific timeframe would help reduce excessive spending and make it easier to track and disclose sources of campaign funding.

“If we regulate campaign activities within a defined period, we can significantly reduce expenditure and improve transparency in donor disclosure, which will be a major step forward,” he noted.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi added that reforms within the electoral process would deepen multiparty democracy and help address challenges such as vote buying and selling. He urged citizens to support the advocacy initiative.

Mrs Evelyn Opoku Tawiah, a participant, shared similar views but stressed that tackling vote buying required greater public awareness of its long-term consequences. She called for intensified civic education to help citizens better understand their rights and responsibilities.

GHBUSS

2 March, 2026