Recently, the International Foundations for Electoral Systems (IFES) organized a two-day workshop in Tamale, focusing on political and campaign finance monitoring for Civil Society Organizations in Ghana. The workshop was led by Gilbert Sam, who set the ground rules and outlined the objectives for participants. One of the main goals of the workshop was to build capacity and identify abuses of incumbency within Ghanaian political parties.
During the workshop, Magnus Ohman from IFES provided insights into political finance regulations, emphasizing the importance of these regulations in ensuring free and fair elections. Key components of political finance regulations include disclosure, bans on contributions and expenditures, as well as limits on contributions and expenditures.
Participants also received extensive presentations on monitoring campaign finance and spending, including topics such as Parallel Expense Tracking and monitoring campaign events. Additionally, there were discussions on monitoring the abuse of state resources, with a focus on financial, institutional, enforcement, and regulatory resources.
The workshop concluded with a session on delimitations of campaign finance monitoring projects, where participants discussed types of expenses, geographical locations, timeframes, and the involvement of candidates and parties. Contributions and recommendations were shared by participants, enriching the discussions and enhancing the overall learning experience.
Overall, the workshop provided valuable insights into political and campaign finance monitoring, equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills to promote transparency and accountability in Ghana’s electoral processes.
