The former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, says Ghana’s constitution must seek to address rent-seeking tendencies which in turn produce parasites and hangers-on who parade the corridors of power and manipulate political leaders.

Delivering a lecture at the Takoradi Technical University on ‘Consolidating Democracy and the Rule of Law in Contemporary Ghana’ he noted that the first point of action is to ensure that local political parties are not financed and influenced by foreigners.

According to him, it is a matter of national security to prevent foreign elements infiltrate Ghana’s political sphere and subsequently derail the nation’s development agenda.

“By Article 55 (15) ‘Only a citizen of Ghana may make a contribution or donation to a political party registered in Ghana’.

"This is to ensure that politics in Ghana is not funded by money launderers and foreign elements whose ultimate interest is to control our natural resources or the importation of rice, sugar, oil, and allied commodities, which undermine our national development. Once more, the screws must be tightened,” he said.

Prof Oquaye added that some of these foreign elements are set on keeping Ghana’s economy reliant on imports and are thus keen on ensuring that the status quo remains.

“The global nouveau rich turn round and represent global interests in our gold, diamond, oil etc. and get favours which are not in our best interest. Some are the controllers of the commodities supply chain who will never allow us to grow our own sugar, oil, rice etc,” he said.

He has thus called for strict enforcement of Article 55(15) to safeguard the nation’s security and national development agenda.

Prof Oquaye further suggested some ways Article 55(15) can be enforced;

“Foreigners should stay away totally from Ghanaian politics. A candidate who flouts this will be disqualified whether from the Parliamentary or Presidential contest.

“Any foreign contractor (big or small) who seeks any contract or business with government must swear an oath that he has not supported any political party financially. If it is later established that the affidavit is false, this will constitute an economic crime and very heavy sanctions will apply.

“Any Ghanaian who acts as a conduit for such a foreigner will be liable to a heavy penalty for this economic crime. The law must be expanded to include Ghanaian businesses as well.

“Provisions must be made to limit monies contributed by individual Ghanaians.

“State sponsorship of political parties and prescribed modalities must be considered again.

“Moneycracy has crept into our politics in a most undesirable manner. This turns round to pollute the body politic and infect the national development as a whole.”