Leadership skills are becoming less recognized in Ghana’s politics as financial resources increasingly determine who gets the chance to lead. According to the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), it now takes about 200 million dollars to win the presidency.
At an event in Accra, CDD-Ghana’s Executive Director, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, cautioned that the growing cost of politics could shut out individuals who possess strong leadership skills and a clear vision for the nation but lack the financial means. He noted that this troubling trend risks turning politics into an exclusive space for the wealthy, undermining democracy and development.
The challenge is not limited to presidential elections. Parliamentary races, party primaries, and even local elections are becoming too expensive. This makes it nearly impossible for individuals with leadership skills and innovative ideas to compete. As a result, many citizens now view politics as being more about wealth than about genuine service to the country.
The same issue is visible in universities across Ghana. Student leadership contests, such as SRC elections, are increasingly shaped by financial power. Candidates with bigger budgets can afford glossy posters, branded T-shirts, and high-profile campaigns. Students who demonstrate leadership skills but cannot match these financial displays are often sidelined, reinforcing the belief that money outweighs competence. By the time such students enter national politics, many already see money—not leadership skills—as the ultimate path to success.
CDD-Ghana has called for urgent reforms in campaign financing and stricter rules within political parties. Such reforms would allow leadership skills to shine through, create fairer opportunities for aspiring leaders, and protect Ghana’s democracy from being dominated by money.
If these changes are not made, Ghana risks developing a political system where financial power overshadows leadership skills, leaving capable leaders excluded. The critical question now is whether the country will embrace reforms to protect its democracy or allow money to fully dictate its leadership future.
