In July, Accra hosted a pivotal conference addressing the growing influence of money in African politics. Organized by the Community of Practice on Money in Politics with support from CDD-Ghana, the Open Society Foundations, and the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption, the event gathered diverse stakeholders including the African Union, governments, civil society, and development partners.
The conference aimed to deepen democracy and integrity across the continent by curbing the financialization of politics. Participants agreed that the high costs of political campaigns exclude many, particularly women and youth, from meaningful participation. For example, studies show parliamentary campaigns cost an average of US$182,000 in Kenya and US$68,215 in Ghana, creating barriers for less wealthy candidates.
Rethinking Vote Buying and Electoral Influence
While vote buying often dominates discussions on money in politics, recent research suggests its prevalence and effectiveness may be overstated. Case studies from Kenya’s recent by-elections reveal mixed outcomes despite significant financial inducements, indicating that money alone does not guarantee electoral success.
Beyond Elections: Money’s Role in Policy Shaping
The conference emphasized that financial influence extends well beyond elections. Money is also used to sway policy decisions between electoral cycles, involving actors who may bypass elections altogether to engage directly with officials and bureaucrats. This broader view challenges the narrow focus on corruption and illicit flows, highlighting that even 'clean' money from development partners or private sector interests can have harmful effects on democratic processes.
Regulation and Localized Approaches
A key outcome was support for the African Union’s development of a Model Law to enhance transparency in political financing, aligned with the UN Convention Against Corruption’s recent resolution on political finance. However, the conference cautioned against over-reliance on regulation alone, pointing to the need for context-specific insights and stronger enforcement mechanisms. The diversity of political party structures across Africa, from institutionalized parties in Ghana and Nigeria to personality-driven parties in Kenya, complicates regulatory efforts.
Inclusive Dialogue and Citizen Empowerment
To effectively address financialization, the conference highlighted the importance of inclusive dialogue involving politicians, bureaucrats, traditional leaders, and marginalized groups. It also called for increased civic education and the development of tools to analyze policy impacts, enabling ordinary citizens to challenge money-driven political outcomes.
Ultimately, the conference underscored the need to refocus on democracy’s core purpose: ensuring equitable governance that protects citizens’ rights and dignity. This requires shifting from institutional fixes to assessing how financial influence disempowers citizens and exploring innovative, participatory approaches to restore democratic integrity.
These principles are reflected in the Accra Declaration on the Financialization of Politics to Advance Democracy in Africa, which commits stakeholders at all levels to advancing this agenda with a broad and inclusive perspective.
