We will remain the same if the phenomenon of ‘moneyed elections’ does not change - Prof Atuguba

Prof Raymond Atuguba is the Dean of the University of Ghana Law School

The Dean of the University of Ghana Law School, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, has expressed worry over the infiltration of money in the current political system in the country.

According to him, injecting huge sums of cash into elections is one of the major debacles hindering the progress of democracy in Ghana.

He added that this system leaves governance and leadership positions to the highest bidder, regardless of their potential.

He asserted that this new trend in politics will breed corruption because politicians will resort to support from investors, who will also demand more when the party comes into power.

Prof. Atuguba emphasised that if the act of ‘moneyed elections’ does not change, the country will not see any progress in terms of development and will continue to battle with hardship.

"When a person or a party borrows money, nationally and internationally to run a campaign, they are essentially going to bed with investors, and the investors will come to collect immediately after you are installed as president. This means, therefore, that our governance is skewed towards satisfying the dynamics of moneyed elections.

“The second priority is to build a war chest for your next election. And by then, people are going to expect more because you have been in the seat for four years. Unless we change the architecture of moneyed elections, we will continue going through these cycles forever and ever,” myjoyonline.com quoted him as having said.

The infiltration of money into elections has become a trend in recent times, yet no measures have been put in place to deal with it, with mostly the politicians - those involved in it, finding excuses and defending why they do so.

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