The Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), Kwami Edem Senanu, has identified opaque political party financing as one of the biggest enablers of
The report indicates that the Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), Kwami Edem Senanu, has identified opaque political party financing as one of the biggest enablers of corruption, illicit financial flows and state capture across Africa, calling on governments to urgently enact and enforce laws to regulate political funding.
It further notes that he warned that unless African countries strengthened transparency and accountability in political finance, elections would increasingly reflect the interests of hidden financiers rather than the will of citizens.
“Political party funding is one of the principal entry points for corruption, illicit financial flows and state capture on our continent. Opaque, unregulated or illicitly sourced party and campaign finance distorts electoral competitions.”
Mr Senanu made the remarks at the opening of the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialization of Politics in Africa, held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra on Tuesday.
The High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialization of Politics in Africa is taking place from July 14 to 16 in Accra. It follows the adoption of Resolution 11/7 at the 11th Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha, which established the first internationally agreed standards on transparency in political financing.
The meeting is expected to contribute to the African Union’s ongoing work on a Model Law on Political Financing, designed to help member states strengthen oversight of political party financing, reduce corruption risks and promote transparency, accountability and democratic integrity across the continent.
The three-day conference, on the theme “Advancing Reform, Transparency, Accountability and Democratic Integrity,” brought together parliamentarians, anti-corruption agencies, electoral management bodies, policymakers, development partners, researchers and civil society organisations to discuss measures to improve transparency in political financing and strengthen democratic governance across Africa.
The event was jointly organised by the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Open Society Foundations and Transparency International.
Mr Senanu stated the growing financialisation of politics had become one of the most significant threats to democratic governance on the continent.
According to him, undisclosed and illicit campaign financing undermines electoral integrity by giving undue advantage to wealthy interests and entrenching incumbency.
“It entrenches incumbency advantage and converts public office into a vehicle for private and partisan enrichment.”
He explained that when political parties rely on undisclosed or illegally acquired funds, democratic competition no longer reflects the aspirations of voters.
“Whilst the sources of party funding are undisclosed, unregulated or drawn from corrupt or criminal proceeds, then political competition ceases to reflect the will of citizens. Instead, it reflects the interests of some undisclosed financiers, incumbent office holders or transnational illicit networks.”
The AUABC Chair noted that Africa already possesses a strong legal foundation for regulating political financing through the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).
