Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

The conference, a component of NIMD’s West African Regional Programme (WARP), was aimed at consensus building and, where possible, harmonizing the approaches to public funding of political parties among the eight WARP member countries. Senior representatives of governing and opposition parties in Mali, Ghana, Benin, Liberia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Togo attended the 3 day event. 

Leveling the Political Field

In his opening speech the Malian Interior Minister, General Kafougouna Kone spoke about the exceptional relevance of party financing to the development of able-bodied political parties and the vital roles they play – in political life, in civic education and during campaigning. Senior lecturer Kwame Ahwoi (EIA Ghana) and Prof. Ismaila Fall (University of Dakar) also stressed the importance of a fair, openly regulated party financing for the development of a politically level playing field.

The role of a regulated financing mechanism in ebbing the influence of corporate funding and eradicating the corruption of ‘kick-backs’ was also highlighted. State funding, with its necessary rules and regulations, goes the argument, would inevitably bring a greater degree of transparency and accountability to the electoral system.

At one point during the discussions, a strong plea for positive discrimination was made by Mrs Agnes Okudzeto, vice chair of Ghana’s ruling NPP party. Part of the state funding, she argued, should be earmarked for promoting and widening the participation of women in party politics.

Arms to the Enemy

A stock take of existing laws shows that initiatives for the introduction of regulated party financing now exist in all WARP countries. Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone have developed draft bills. Mali, Benin, Ivory Coast and Nigeria have laws in place – although the implementation of these laws is very often a bone of contention. The winner takes all approach which tends to characterize African electoral politics does not readily provide an enabling environment for the introduction of party financing. In the words of Mr Ahwoi too much and too often governing parties feel they have little to win by what they see as ‘giving arms to their enemy’.

Finding positive consensus, the participants to the conference affirmed that party financing laws can only be means and never ends in themselves. Implementation, supervision and sometimes adaptation of the existing laws are part and parcel of the sometimes painstaking, always open-ended process of leveling the playing field for all political parties.

Joint Communiqué

At the close of the conference all the parties present, representing government and opposition alike, signed a joint communiqué. This document is intended to inspire and inform party representatives to take a lead and actively support party financing legislation in their respective countries.

Backstory

Investment

The important role that money plays – to the detriment of policies – both within political parties and in relation to their constituencies in Mali became quite apparent during the country’s general elections last year. Parliamentary candidates are expected to provide the majority of campaign funds individually, although some parties do contribute a little in strategic areas.
The fact that politics is considered to be dominated by personal career opportunities for people that are striving for a return on their (campaign) investment also contributes to the limited public participation in politics and tremendously low turnout figures. more>