Political scientist and CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has expressed deep concern about the increasing monetisation of Ghana’s electoral politics, warning that the true will of the people is being undermined by money and last-minute political manipulations.
Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoint programme on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Prof. Gyampo argued that internal party traditions and genuine popular support are being overshadowed by financial influence and electoral malpractice, particularly during leadership selection processes.
“Every party has its own tradition for selecting leaders or successors. But it appears that this time, there was a deviation from the succession practice they have relied on over the years,” Prof. Gyampo said.
He cited the example of Alan Kyerematen, noting that in the lead-up to his party’s primaries, Alan enjoyed massive support among both grassroots and top party executives, especially during the initial stage meant to sieve the number of aspirants down to five.
However, events that unfolded just a day before the decisive primaries dramatically altered the outcome.
“People do not know what happened the day before the primaries that reduced the number to five. A lot of things happened. And that’s why I say the day we are able to address cheating, election result purchases, and monetisation—what I call monocracy—that day, we will truly know who the people want,” he stated.
Dr Gyampo lamented that Ghana’s democratic practice is gradually shifting away from being a contest of ideas and popular will to a contest of wealth and financial power.
“I’m so worried that we are on a tangent where if you have money, you can do anything—you can win elections. Democracy, which is supposed to be about the choice of the people and the expression of the sovereign will, now appears to be for sale to the highest bidder. It’s unfortunate,” he stressed.
He further cautioned against dismissing the possibility of a viable third political force in Ghana, arguing that historical patterns and recent developments—such as the 2020 hung parliament—show that the country’s democracy is evolving.
“It will be an error of judgement for anyone to say that we shouldn’t give an attempted third force a dog’s chance. The fact that third-force movements have performed poorly in the past doesn’t mean things cannot change,” he argued.
Prof. Gyampo agreed with legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, who earlier on the same programme predicted the rise of a credible third political bloc by 2032, likely driven by younger generations and civil society coalitions.
He added that many competent individuals outside the political establishment are now beginning to consider active political involvement, recognising that leadership is not the preserve of the traditional political class.
“When you speak to people, they’re beginning to ask why they, too, shouldn’t get involved to improve the lot of the country. With time, you’ll see some of these third forces springing up,” he noted.
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