Ghana: Dr. Mensah Calls For Independent Political Finance Oversight

• Development Economist Dr. Valentin Kwasi Mensah has called for an independent body to oversee political party financing in Ghana.
• Existing laws, including the 1992 Constitution and Political Parties Act, 2000, mandate financial disclosures, but their enforcement is inconsistent.
• Dr. Mensah's personal request to the Electoral Commission for party financial records went unanswered for over a year, despite follow-ups.
• A key debate centers on whether the proposed independent regulator should be established constitutionally or through ordinary legislation.
• The effectiveness of such a regulator depends on constitutional protection, adequate funding, specialist personnel, transparency, and public accountability.

He strongly advocated for constitutional safeguards to protect the regulator's independence, define its core mandate, and establish its appointment procedures.

Development Economist and Chartered Accountant, Dr. Valentin Kwasi Mensah, has publicly advocated for the establishment of an independent regulatory body dedicated to overseeing political party financing in Ghana. This call, made public on November 3, 2026, aims to bolster accountability within the nation's electoral processes. Dr. Mensah highlighted that the escalating expenses associated with political campaigns, coupled with the inadequate enforcement of existing financial disclosure mandates, underscore the urgent necessity for more robust institutional supervision.

In an opinion piece titled "Political Rivalry and the Rising Cost of Politics in Ghana," Dr. Mensah articulated concerns that excessive spending during campaigns could lead to politicians becoming beholden to affluent benefactors. These sponsors, he suggested, might anticipate receiving appointments, government contracts, or other advantages in exchange for their financial contributions. To illustrate the current challenges in enforcement, Dr. Mensah recounted his own experience of writing to the Electoral Commission (EC) on January 28, 2025. His request sought the 2023 financial returns and audited accounts for both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Despite the EC acknowledging receipt of his inquiry, Dr. Mensah reported that he had not received any substantive response by November 1, 2026, even after multiple follow-ups.

Ghana's legal framework, specifically Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution and the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), mandates that political parties disclose their funding sources, submit comprehensive financial returns, and publish their audited accounts. However, Dr. Mensah emphasized that the implementation of these critical provisions has been inconsistent, leading to significant gaps in Ghana political party funding regulation.

The absence of regular public reporting on the financial activities of political parties creates a substantial hurdle for both citizens and Parliament. It impedes their ability to effectively evaluate the Electoral Commission Ghana's performance in upholding and enforcing political finance regulations. This situation contributes to a broader lack of accountability, making it difficult to ascertain whether parties are adhering to the legal requirements designed to ensure fair and transparent political financing, particularly regarding Political Parties Act 2000 Act 574 enforcement.

Addressing these systemic issues, the Constitution Review Committee previously put forth a proposal for an independent regulator specifically tasked with overseeing political parties and campaigns. Dr. Mensah noted that a key point of contention revolves around the institutional placement of such a body: whether it should be enshrined within the Constitution itself, thereby granting it greater autonomy, or established through ordinary legislation, a path reportedly favored by the government. He strongly advocated for constitutional safeguards to protect the regulator's independence, define its core mandate, and establish its appointment procedures.

While advocating for constitutional protection for the regulator's foundational aspects, Dr. Mensah suggested that operational specifics, such as expenditure limits, detailed reporting requirements, and the imposition of sanctions, could be appropriately addressed through ordinary legislation. Beyond the regulator's structure, he also put forward several other recommendations for Ghana campaign finance law reform. These included implementing limits on campaign spending, ensuring the timely disclosure of significant donations, verifying the origins of funding sources, and consistently applying sanctions against political parties that fail to comply with financial reporting obligations.

The ultimate effectiveness of any proposed independent regulator for Ghana independent political finance oversight, according to Dr. Valentin Kwasi Mensah, will hinge on several critical factors beyond its constitutional standing. These include securing adequate funding to support its operations, staffing it with specialist personnel possessing the necessary expertise, ensuring transparent decision-making processes, and maintaining robust public accountability mechanisms. Without these elements, even a constitutionally protected body might struggle to fulfill its mandate.

The overarching concern is to prevent the undue influence of money in politics, which Dr. Mensah's analysis suggests can distort democratic processes by creating dependencies between politicians and wealthy donors. By strengthening the oversight of political finance, the aim is to foster a more equitable and transparent electoral environment, reducing the potential for corruption and ensuring that political decisions serve the broader public interest rather than the interests of a select few.

Lawyers advising political parties or donors in Ghana should monitor legislative developments regarding the proposed independent regulator for political party financing, as its establishment could significantly alter compliance obligations and enforcement mechanisms under the 1992 Constitution and Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).

Source: Reporting based on Albert Kuzor's article.