Story by George Yawson Vineh
Democracy is often described as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” At its best, it means every citizen has a voice and a vote no matter their background, income, or social status. But what happens when money becomes tied to political influence, especially through franchise systems like political party funding, campaign spending, and special interest contributions? Too often, the result is that wealth begins to shape power more than the people do.
In politics, franchise refers to the right to vote and the broader power to participate in democratic processes. When people talk about money entering the franchise, they’re usually referring to how financial resources affect political participation and influence not just at the voting booth, but in who gets heard, who gets elected, and whose interests are represented.
How Money Can Distort Democratic Fairness
- Unequal Access to Political Power
When candidates or parties need large sums to campaign, wealthy individuals and organisations can gain disproportionate influence. Politicians may feel pressure to represent the views of donors rather than ordinary voters. In this situation, democracy starts to shift from representing everyone equally to representing those with money most effectively. - Barriers for Ordinary Candidates
Many young leaders, community organisers, or activists with great ideas lack the funds to run effective campaigns. If elections require expensive advertising, travel, and staff, only wealthy candidates or those backed by rich sponsors can compete. This discourages diverse voices from stepping forward, weakening the democratic franchise. - Policy Capture by Special Interests
When big money flows into politics, powerful industries or interest groups can influence laws and regulations in their favour. This might mean tax policies that benefit large corporations, environmental rules that are softened, or regulations that reduce competition. Ordinary citizens, who lack the same financial leverage, can get left behind. - Voter Distrust and Apathy
When voters see that money plays a big role in determining outcomes, they may begin to believe that voting doesn’t really matter that decisions are made behind closed doors by those with the deepest pockets. This can lead to lower voter turnout and increased cynicism about democratic systems.
We recently saw what happened at Ayawaso East NDC parliamentary elections and the NPP presidential primaries where there have been allegations of different forms of gift donations from candidates either through their right hand persons or themselves to supporters. Though the NDC has condemned the act in Ayawaso East it is important both parties take a drastic measure in sanitizing the political space to allow a free, fair and transparent process of electing capable individuals to lead.
For democracy to thrive, it needs fair participation, equal voices, and accountability. When money becomes a major driver in politics:
Representation becomes uneven. Not every community gets equal attention.
Policy priorities can tilt toward the wealthy. Social needs may be sidelined.
Public trust declines. People lose faith when they believe power belongs to the richest, not the many.
A healthy democracy is one where citizens feel their votes matter, leaders are accountable to all people, and public decisions reflect the common good not just the interests of a few.
While money will always play some role in organising campaigns and politics, there are ways to protect fairness:
Transparent campaign financing: Making all political donations public so citizens see who supports whom and how much.
Limits on spending: Establishing reasonable caps on campaign expenses to level the playing field.
Public funding for elections: Providing government support for candidates so grassroots leaders can compete.
Promoting civic engagement: Encouraging youth and communities to vote, discuss issues, and participate in civic life.
I hereby say that when money dominates the political franchise, the very heart of democracy’s equal voice is weakened. To protect democratic values, societies need systems that ensure every citizen’s voice matters equally, not just the voices backed by wealth. A democracy that serves everyone is one where money supports participation, not drowns it out.