By Jerry Azanduna, GNA
Techiman (Bono East) Feb. 11, GNA – Reverend Prince Owusu Aseku, the Bono East Regional Chairman for the National Peace Council, has called for the criminalisation of vote-buying in the nation’s partisan politicking.
He bemoaned that voting buying had eaten into the nation’s politics, undermining “the real purpose of elections in the country”.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Techiman, Rev. Aseku said he was worried that: “People are being manipulated with money and other incentives to induce them to go against their will,” saying that practice militated against the framework of any true democracy.
His call followed concerns raised by the civil society community Occupy Ghana, and Transparency International on vote buying during political party elections.
Reacting to allegations of bribery that reportedly characterised internal elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Rev. Aseku noted that vote buying and electoral fraud undermined the nurturing nation’s fledgling democracy.
He said: “The situation is becoming alarming and something urgent must be done to bring it under control.”
Rev. Aseku said reports revealed that some political aspirants allegedly induced delegates with items like television sets, clothing, food items and cash in exchange for votes, saying that the practice of vote buying undermined fairness and meritocracy within the democratic process.
He stressed that “vote buying does not help the intelligent or competent individuals who may lack the financial strength to campaign. Instead, it favours those with money, and this ultimately weakens the quality of leadership in the country”.
Rev. Aseku expressed worry over the recent trend of electioneering characterised by inducement and suggested that a law should be enacted with immediate effect to safeguard the future of the country’s democracy.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/ Christabel Addo