Ghana’s Political Reform Agenda to Push Party Cleanup

Reform has become a critical keyword in Ghana’s democratic conversation at a time when public trust in political institutions is waning.

Legal luminary and Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, has stepped forward with a powerful proposal: a 20-Point Reform Plan aimed at reviving the moral and democratic soul of Ghana’s political parties.

The 20-point agenda, unveiled by Prof. Asare, is not just another academic blueprint. It is a rallying call to restore political parties to their rightful role as incubators of democracy rather than tools of personal enrichment and political oppression.

“Our political parties have been taken over by profiteers, opportunists, and sycophants. Rather than serving as platforms for principled leadership and democratic participation, they have too often become vehicles for personal gain, patronage, and political intimidation.”

He insisted that if Ghanaian democracy is to thrive, “we must reclaim our parties and reform them from the ground up.”

The proposal tackles foundational weaknesses that continue to weaken Ghana’s party system.

Accordingly, Prof. Asare recommended that voter registration must include party affiliation to “create a verifiable party membership database and enable member-only participation in internal elections.”

From there, he outlines a logical next step: mandating internal elections among registered members only.

Under his proposal, party candidates for parliamentary and presidential elections would be chosen through “transparent and inclusive primaries” open to verifiable party members.

Reform to Prioritize Inclusion And Accountability:

To eliminate the distortion that money introduces into politics, Prof. Azar advocates for the public financing of party primaries.

He argued that this measure would “reduce financial manipulation and level the playing field.”

Equally transformative is his proposal for “transparent and regulated party financing,” which would impose donation limits and require full disclosure of funding sources.

Prof. Asare believes that public funding should be tied to metrics like gender inclusiveness and internal democracy, which ensures that party reform doesn’t just look good on paper.

On the issue of internal party freedom, Prof. Azar pulls no punches. He called for measures that would “institutionalize mechanisms for internal debate, dissent, and policy deliberation without fear of reprisals.”

Furthermore, he says, “prohibit the suspension or expulsion of rank-and-file members for expressing views or criticizing leadership.”

He also underscored the importance of eliminating political favoritism in the allocation of public goods.

As part of his proposal, he recommends making it a criminal offense to grant contracts, employment opportunities, or scholarships based on political allegiance.

The broader objective is to restore merit-based governance and dismantle the entrenched culture of political rewards that undermines public service integrity.

According to him, public servants must be held to a higher standard. Prof. Azar recommends barring non-elected public officials from partisan commentary or campaigning to maintain neutrality in public administration.

Furthermore, Prof. Stephen Asare stressed that party officials without constitutional or elected positions should have no role in cabinet meetings or influence over executive decision-making.

He indicated that this stance aims to address the concerning overlap between political party activities and the functions of government, which he believes compromises effective governance.

Notably, the proposal seeks to enforce term limits for party executives and institutionalize ideological clarity.

Prof. Asare expressed the need for political parties to “adopt consistent policy positions and publicly commit to programmatic manifestos to move beyond personality politics.”

He doesn’t stop there. The plan pushes for gender and youth inclusion, annual financial audits of political parties, and penalties for abuse of incumbency.

These proposals are aimed at creating a transparent political culture driven by issues rather than egos.

He proposes to “institutionalize platforms for inter-party dialogue on major national policies to reduce polarization and foster unity.”

To monitor all of this, he proposes the establishment of “an Independent Party Regulatory Commission” to oversee party registration, compliance, and financing. This body, he insisted, would fill a role the Electoral Commission is not equipped to play.

“Decentralize Party Structures and Empower Constituencies–Transfer meaningful power and resources to local branches to democratize internal governance and promote grassroots accountability.

“End Excessive Party Whipping in Parliament –Political parties must respect the autonomy of Members of Parliament. Over-whipping stifles debate, erodes legislative independence, and weakens parliamentary oversight.”

This is a move he believes will restore legislative independence and strengthen parliamentary oversight.

He also encouraged all political parties to “invest in political education programs that inform members about civic responsibilities, constitutional values, and national policy issues.”

In an era dominated by elite control and shallow populism, Prof. Azar’s 20-Point Reform Plan offers not only a critique but a concrete roadmap for democratic renewal.

Whether political leaders will heed this call or dismiss it as academic idealism remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Ghana’s democracy cannot afford business as usual.