The high cost of politics in Ghana is emerging as a significant barrier to entry for women and young people, despite their growing numbers in the population. Hariratah Ibrahim Doudu, Vice President of the Student Representative Council at the Ghana School of Law, has experienced this firsthand. She noted that she had once believed sharing her vision with people would be enough to win their backing, but soon realized that money plays a crucial role in climbing Ghana's political ladder.
According to a 2021 study by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), a presidential candidate would need around $100 million to mount a viable campaign, while a parliamentary aspirant would require approximately GH¢4 million. These costs are compounded by nomination fees charged by parties, campaign logistics, publicity materials, and expected "gifts" to delegates and constituents. This financial burden is significant, especially for young people and women who often have limited resources.
The financial demands of campaigning are a major obstacle for aspiring parliamentary candidates, particularly young people. A study by Obaa Akua Konadu-Osei for the Youth Democracy Cohort found that 12 aspiring parliamentary candidates aged 21 to 40 from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cited financial constraints as a significant challenge. One aspirant was quoted as saying that without money to share on voting day, you cannot win, highlighting the importance of financial resources in Ghanaian politics.
Sherif Ghali, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs and President of the Ghana Youth Federation, believes that the high cost of politics is shutting out capable young people. He argues that young people are often mobilized to attend rallies and serve as campaign faces but are rarely given real decision-making roles once the voting is done. Ghali points to the delegate system, where a small pool of party delegates picks candidates in primaries, as particularly damaging to young people's chances.
Women face additional barriers in Ghanaian politics, including social expectations around who they accept money from. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reports that women hold only 40 of the 276 seats in Ghana's current Parliament, approximately 14.5%. The Youth Democracy Cohort study found that women aspirants face pressure in raising campaign funds, partly due to concerns about damaging their public image by accepting money from wealthy patrons.
Ghana has taken steps to address the gender gap in politics, including the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121). However, concerns remain about the speed at which institutions are implementing the law. The election of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana's first female Vice President in 2024 is seen as a positive step, but many women still see electing a female president as a key milestone.
The issue of high costs in politics is currently playing out within the NDC's internal elections. Allegations of vote-buying have surfaced in several regions, highlighting the financial and procedural pressures that are pricing out candidates with limited resources. Hariratah Ibrahim Doudu's advice to hesitant young women is to "do it anyway," encouraging them to participate in politics despite the challenges.
Key points
- The high cost of politics in Ghana is pricing out women and young people, despite their significant presence in the population.
- Women face additional barriers in Ghanaian politics, including social expectations around who they accept money from.
- Ghana has taken steps to address the gender gap in politics, including the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
