The Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Professor Isaac Owusu Mensah, has argued that political parties should receive state funding, describing them as an integral part of Ghana’s constitutional and governance framework.
Speaking on The Public Sphere on Radio Univers on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Prof. Owusu Mensah emphasized that political parties are not merely private entities, as they have often been perceived over the years, but are the primary institutions that nurture and prepare individuals for political leadership.
“Political parties are not just private entities; they are part and parcel of the state governance system. They need some support from the state,” he argued.
According to Prof. Owusu Mensah, 0.5 per cent of the state’s annual revenue should be allocated to an elections fund to support political parties.
He explained that such an arrangement would enable the state to exercise some level of oversight over political party financing and funding sources while promoting transparency and accountability.
He further proposed that eligibility for state funding should be tied to electoral performance, with only political parties that secure at least five per cent of the valid votes in a general election qualifying for support.
Prof. Owusu Mensah also suggested that the fund should be administered by the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Minister for Finance.
“The fund should be administered by the Majority Leader, Minority Leader and Minister for Finance,” he said, adding that their primary responsibility would be to monitor the distribution and use of the funds.
He noted that the involvement of both the Majority and Minority Leaders would provide a national and bipartisan perspective in the administration of the fund and help prevent any potential discretion by the Finance Minister in the allocation of resources.
Prof. Owusu Mensah maintained that state funding of political parties would strengthen transparency in political financing and contribute to a more accountable democratic process in Ghana.
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Story by Emmanuella Ntowbea Marbell | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
