Ghanaian Governance Under Scrutiny as Stakeholders Demand Electoral Reforms and Enhanced Transparency

Ghana’s governance and electoral systems are facing intensified pressure from civil society and human rights advocates demanding greater accountability and institutional integrity. At the forefront of these concerns is the Electoral Commission (EC), which has been issued a seven-day ultimatum by human rights advocate Gilbert Korbla Keklie to conduct a by-election in the Anyako Electoral Area. The seat has remained vacant for over a year, leaving residents without representation—a situation Keklie argues violates both the Local Governance Act and the 1992 Constitution. This demand for electoral action coincides with calls from Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and risk management consultant Abeiku Hayford for the President to prioritize neutrality and professional integrity when appointing new Deputy Chairpersons for the EC. They emphasize that rigorous security vetting by the National Intelligence Bureau is essential to ensure appointees are free from partisan ties, thereby safeguarding the credibility of future elections.

Beyond electoral matters, Transparency International Ghana (TI-Ghana) is advocating for stricter enforcement of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to combat systemic corruption. Mr. Bright Sena Ayivi of TI-Ghana noted that despite the law’s existence, bureaucratic resistance and low public awareness continue to hinder access to information regarding high-profile corruption cases. Through the SICA project, which spans 11 African nations, TI-Ghana aims to track these cases more effectively while pushing for improved digital infrastructure and proactive disclosure from public institutions. Stephen Owusu of the RTI Commission acknowledged these challenges, noting a growing reluctance among some state institutions to comply with information requests, though he expressed hope that a pending Legislative Instrument will strengthen enforcement powers by the end of the year.

Financial oversight at the local level has also emerged as a critical issue, with the youth-led NGO RISE-Ghana calling for an increase in the administrative expenditure cap for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The organization proposes raising the cap from five to ten percent to provide the necessary resources for effective oversight, pointing to over GH₵452 million in financial irregularities identified by the Auditor-General between 2020 and 2024. These calls for fiscal discipline are echoed in the controversy surrounding the Heal Komfo Anokye Project (HeKAP) in Kumasi. Despite raising over GH₵50 million, the initiative has been flagged by auditors for procurement irregularities and lack of documentation, prompting Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to request a formal audit to resolve disputes over the project's private versus public governance structure.

Local development projects are also facing public resistance due to planning concerns, notably in the Ahafo-Ano South West District. Residents of Mankranso are urging the government to relocate a proposed 24-Hour Economy Market, arguing that the chosen site is a flood-prone, waterlogged zone that risks wasting taxpayer funds. While District Chief Executive Abubakar Sedik maintains that drainage systems will mitigate these risks, local skepticism highlights a broader trend of citizens demanding more transparent and viable infrastructure planning. Collectively, these developments reflect a growing movement across Ghana to strengthen democratic institutions, ensure local representation, and enforce rigorous accountability in both national and local governance.