Janet Nabla, leader of the People’s National Party (PNP), has criticised the high cost of contesting internal party elections, warning that excessive financial barriers are undermining democracy and excluding capable leaders from Ghana’s political space.
Contributing to discussions on TownHall Talk on Friday (16 January), Nabla argued that internal party elections have become more expensive and divisive than national elections, creating deep internal rifts that weaken parties ahead of general polls.
“Internal elections are even more financially draining than national elections, and the damage they cause can destroy parties from within,” she said.
She expressed particular concern over nomination and development fees, citing figures running into millions of cedis, which she said automatically disqualify ordinary citizens, women, and candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“A poor woman from a village like Nalerigu cannot raise GH¢4.5 million just to contest. Where do you expect such people to get the money from?” she asked.
According to Nabla, the financialisation of politics forces aspirants to rely on wealthy backers, often with expectations of future rewards, a practice she believes fuels corruption once candidates gain power.
She also criticised Ghana’s dominant political parties for shifting focus away from ideology toward money-driven mobilisation, particularly at the grassroots.
“Politics is no longer about belief in ideas. The first question people ask you is whether you have money,” she said.
Nabla urged political parties to take responsibility for funding internal contests and restoring ideology-based participation, warning that failure to do so would continue to marginalise credible leadership.
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