Dr. Daniel Dawda Tanko, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) and the Upper West Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has dismissed recent calls for increased government funding of political parties as premature and unjustified within Ghana’s current socio-economic and political context.

His comments came during an appearance on Info Weekend Watch, where he responded to proposals by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) to establish a Model Political Campaign Financing Law. The proposed legislation seeks to regulate campaign funding, including state support for political parties, to enhance transparency, prevent undue influence by wealthy financiers, and curb practices such as vote buying and illicit funding sources.

Dr. Tanko argued that Ghana is not in a position to allocate public funds to political parties at this time, emphasizing that the nation’s pressing developmental challenges should take precedence. “Ghana’s current priority should be addressing the socio-economic needs of its citizens, not diverting scarce resources to fund political campaigns,” he stated. He further called for the dismissal of any proposals advocating for public funding of political parties in the existing model law.

The political scientist, who also serves as the NPP’s Upper West regional secretary, pointed out that existing legislation already governs party funding. He explained that political parties are required to file audited statements of accounts and disclose their funding sources before contesting elections. “Enforcement of these existing laws should be prioritized over creating new regulations,” he advised.

The Draft Model Political Financing Bill, developed by CDD-Ghana, aims to address the increasing influence of money in Ghana’s electoral processes. Its objectives include tackling vote buying, controlling illicit funding sources, and promoting transparency in campaign financing to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.

As discussions around political financing continue, experts like Dr. Tanko emphasize the importance of focusing on economic development first, cautioning against initiatives that may strain national resources without addressing core socio-economic issues.

Source: Info Radio