The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has expressed strong condemnation of the occurrence of vote-buying during the Assin North by-election held on Tuesday. Both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have accused each other of engaging in this practice.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, alleged that the NPP distributed sums of GH¢200 and GH¢300 to certain voters in order to influence them to vote for their candidate. He vehemently denied any involvement in the distribution of money and accused the NPP of attempting to divert attention from their own actions.
In response to these allegations, the National Coordinator of CODEO, Albert Kofi Arhin, emphasized the need to address and curb such acts in order to safeguard the country’s democracy. Arhin expressed concern over the reports of money changing hands and stated that such practices could harm the progress of democracy in the nation.
Arhin stated, “How can you give money to a voter to cast a ballot for you? It is surely a bad sign, so I think both politicians and voters need to look at this and find solutions to it because it is not good for our democracy.”
Meanwhile, John Boadu, the former General Secretary of the NPP, downplayed the accusations of vote-buying leveled against his party by the opposition NDC in the Assin North by-election. Speaking to journalists in Assin North, Boadu criticized the NDC for engaging in vote-buying themselves and then turning around to accuse NPP members of the same practice.
He dismissed the NDC’s claims as trivial and argued that there was nothing wrong with facilitating transportation for some disadvantaged voters.
The incidence of vote-buying in the Assin North by-election has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. CODEO’s strong condemnation highlights the urgent need for all stakeholders, including politicians and voters, to address this issue and find effective solutions to preserve the country’s democracy.
Source – citinewsroom.com
