Account to citizens on numerous alleged vote-buying cases being investigated – Crusaders Against Corruption to OSP

A Civil Society Organization (CSO), Crusaders Against Corruption, is calling on the Office of the Special Prosecutor to account to Ghanaians on numerous alleged vote-buying cases being investigated.

According to Crusaders, the call is in line with their consistent position in condemning all acts of vote buying and voter inducement in the electoral process in Ghana.

“These practices are unlawful, unethical, and fundamentally threaten the integrity of our democratic system. Vote buying, whether through cash, gifts, food items, or promises of material benefit, is expressly prohibited under Ghana’s electoral laws, including the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I. 127), and relevant provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29),” Chief Crusader, Emmanuel Wilson Jnr indicated in a statement.

He explained that these laws criminalize corrupt electoral practices and impose sanctions on individuals who seek to improperly influence voters.

“Such conduct violates the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections guaranteed by the Constitution and undermines the sovereign right of the Ghanaian people to choose their leaders without coercion or inducement. Exploiting economic hardship to sway voters is not only illegal but morally reprehensible.

“The OSP must give an immediate account to us citizens of how his office has applied these laws in the numerous alleged votes buying cases in all previous elections that he claims are being investigated,” Mr. Wilson stated.

The Ayawaso East primary was organised to select a parliamentary candidate following the death of the sitting MP, Naser Toure Mahama, last month. Provisional results showed Baba Jamal polling 431 votes, narrowly ahead of Hajia Amina Adam, who secured 399 votes. Mohammed Ramne polled 88 votes, Dr Yakubu Azimdow had 45, while Najib Sani obtained one vote.

Hajia Amina Adam, the widow of the late MP, entered the race amid heightened public interest and had been tipped by pollsters, including Global InfoAnalytics, as the favourite before voting.

However, the process was overshadowed by reports that inducements were being offered to delegates, including allegations that television sets were distributed by the Baba Jamal campaign during polling.

Baba Jamal, Ghana’s Ambassador to Nigeria, has rejected claims of wrongdoing, insisting in media engagements that his actions should not be misconstrued and did not amount to vote buying.

As the party’s internal investigations continue, the Majority Caucus position adds fresh pressure on the NDC leadership to take decisive action to safeguard primary elections.