Kwesi Pratt Jr, the managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, has disclosed that to become president in Ghana, ones to mobilise a minimum of $100 million.
According to Kwesi Pratt, the high cost of political participation excludes capable citizens from leadership, arguing that financial demands associated with contesting elections favour the wealthy.
He highlighted that monetary requirements are a major barrier which sidelines many qualified individuals.
Speaking on Alhaji and Alhaji on Pan African TV on April 18, 2026, Kwasi Pratt detailed that studies have suggested that in Ghana, to become president, you need to mobilise a minimum of $100 million. Immediately, almost the whole population is excluded from participation”.
“If you have a system where you need to mobilise so much money to become president, what it actually implies is that foreign interests will control the country,” he warned.
Kwesi Pratt also dismissed ongoing discussions about John Dramani Mahama being granted a third term in office.
He added, “Are we saying that a country of 35 million people can produce only one leader? What if he dies tomorrow or becomes incapacitated?”.
According to Kwesi Pratt, leadership should involve mentoring successors and building systems that outlast individuals, over the concentration of national direction in a single figure.
“In a country of 35 million people, you cannot be governed by the vision of only one person. Immediately, there are questions about democracy,” Kwesi Pratt stated.
In related news, Kwesi Pratt has cautioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that they will be handing the opposition NPP a bonanza if they keep pushing a third-term agenda.
According to Kwesi Pratt, the NPP is in tatters, but the NDC’s third-term agenda will revive the NPP very quickly and enhance its chances.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, Kwesi Pratt stated, “How can we as a people, 35 million people, come to the conclusion that there is only one person who can lead us out of 35 million? That is an insult to the population.
To make the general preposition that for us long us that person is alive, he is the only person capable of leading”.
He further replied to the Majority leader in parliament, who claimed Ghanaians are calling for President Mahama to run for a third term.
“I wish he would have learnt a little more history, he would have thought twice because Ghana’s history clearly shows that it is an adventure that could lead to very dangerous consequences”, Kwesi Pratt noted.
He further explained, “If you look at our history, one of our most popular leaders was General Acheampong. Don’t forget when Gen Acheampong was being shot at the Teshie range, he was being shot to public applauds what did he do wrong? Study that history.
People should be careful about what they advocate and what they wish. I have told some of my friends that today the NPP appears to be in tatters, and the NPP would revive itself very quickly and enhance its chances of coming back to power if this third-term bid is pushed. It will be a bonanza for the NPP if they like, they should try it”.
Kwesi Pratt further highlighted that, fortunately for the NDC president, Mahama has already come out to say he is not interested, and the NDC has also stressed they are not going to support any third-term bid.
Watch the video below: