Monetization of elections is a canker that must be dealt with, It doesn’t make good people enter politics – Solomon Anane
Solomon Anane, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), has voiced strong concerns over the growing monetization of elections in Ghana.
Speaking on Kessben FM with host Wofa Kofi Appiah, Mr. Anane described the trend as a “canker” that must be dealt with, warning that it undermines the integrity of the country’s democratic process.
According to Anane, the increasing influence of money in electoral politics is not just a symptom of systemic problems, it actively discourages good, principled people from entering politics. He argued that when elections become distorted by cash incentives and financial inducements, the focus shifts from public service to who can pay the most, rather than who is best suited to lead.
As a result, capable and ethical candidates with limited financial resources may be sidelined, while wealthier aspirants gain undue advantage.
Experts and civil society actors in Ghana have similarly expressed alarm about the harmful impact of monetising politics. They note that high campaign costs, vote-buying and financial pressures during party primaries create barriers for many capable leaders and distort democratic participation.
Evidence from public education materials on electoral monetisation highlights how such practices can erode electoral integrity and reduce political engagement to financial transactions rather than policy debates.
