Regulation and implementation of party funding in Burkina Faso and Ghana

Abstract

There has been considerable momentum to address the issue of party finance and political corruption across the world, including in Africa; this is because political parties require funds to properly function and to actively participate in elections. This article will review the system of regulation and implementation of party funding in two West African countries, namely Burkina Faso and Ghana, and it will examine how financing of political parties is regulated and the impact on rule of law and good governance in both countries. Whether they have access to public or private funds, it appears that small political parties in Burkina Faso and Ghana continue to face challenges which ultimately affect their ability to function properly and to actively participate in elections. The article therefore submits that the phenomenon of party funding regulation in Burkina Faso and Ghana is a process in development which needs reinforcing in order to be fair and inclusive.