Delegates from across Africa are meeting in Accra, Ghana, to examine the growing influence of money in politics and its impact on democracy, governance and accountability.

The three-day high-level regional convening, held under the theme “The Financialization of Politics in Africa, Advancing Reform, Accountability and Democratic Integrity,” is exploring reforms to promote greater transparency in political financing and strengthen democratic institutions across the continent.

The growing influence of money in politics is taking centre stage in Accra, where policymakers, governance experts and civil society leaders say unchecked political financing poses a serious threat to democracy and accountable governance across Africa.

Executive Director at Mzalendo Trust in Kenya Caroline Gaita shares some of the biggest risks that money in politics poses to democracy in Africa.

“The biggest risk to the financialisation of politics in Africa is one, the exclusion of key segments of community towards their participation. Secondly is the increasing role of influence, especially around policies and institutional oversight and the capture of state and, you know, pertinent institutions. The third risk is, of course, that when citizens’ voices don’t count, when the power is not in the vote but on the Shilling or the Dollar, then there’s a challenge because then we are discussing about the commodification of democracy.”

–ChannelAfrica–