Politics & Policy

    African candidates must disclose donations Nyarko urges

    William Nyarko of ACILA calls for urgent reforms to political finance laws across Africa to combat corruption and state capture.

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    William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), has urged African nations to mandate that electoral candidates disclose campaign donations. This critical reform aims to address a significant legal loophole that contributes to corruption, state capture, and the misuse of public resources across the continent. Nyarko made this call during the Financialisation of Politics Conference in Accra, held from July 14 to 16, 2026. Nyarko emphasized that the current absence of candidate-level campaign finance disclosure creates a major transparency and accountability deficit. Much of the money financing elections goes directly to candidates, bypassing political parties. This direct funding often comes with expectations of favorable treatment, contracts, or appointments if the candidates win office. Without disclosure, citizens cannot know who finances political campaigns or the potential influence these financiers wield over public decision-making. This issue is widespread, with more than 30 African countries lacking legal provisions for candidates to disclose contributions and expenditures or submit post-election financial reports. This regulatory gap contradicts international and regional anti-corruption obligations that many African countries have accepted. For instance, 53 of Africa's 54 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which calls for enhanced transparency in funding candidates. Nyarko also cited Article 10 of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), ratified by 43 African countries. This convention promotes transparency in the financing of political parties and democratic processes. He stated that the legal and policy frameworks are already in place, but many countries have failed to translate these international commitments into domestic laws requiring candidates to disclose their financial activities. The consequences of this regulatory void extend beyond elections, impacting governance and public service delivery. Nyarko warned that public resources are often used to repay political financiers, leading to corruption, patronage, procurement manipulation, and the diversion of funds from national development priorities. Hidden campaign funding creates fertile ground for these illicit activities. Nyarko urged governments, legislatures, electoral management bodies, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society organizations across Africa to prioritize these reforms. He called for candidates to publicly disclose donations, report expenditures, file financial returns, and submit to independent oversight and auditing. These remarks were part of broader discussions focused on strengthening transparency, accountability, and integrity in political finance systems. The conference concluded with deliberations on the Accra Declaration, a continental statement of commitment. This declaration aims to advance political finance transparency, democratic accountability, and anti-corruption reforms across Africa. Participants hope the declaration will serve as a roadmap, translating existing international standards into practical reforms. This will reduce the influence of opaque money in politics and strengthen democratic governance throughout the continent.

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