Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has reiterated its call for the criminalisation of intra-party vote buying in the country’s political processes.
Referencing a previous letter dated October 9, 2023, submitted to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and other stakeholders, OccupyGhana said the increasing normalisation of vote buying within internal party elections posed a grave and growing threat to democratic accountability, political integrity and equal participation.
The pressure group, made up of some of the country’s best and brightest young leaders and professionals, is worried that while national elections were governed by clear legal prohibitions against electoral corruption, the continued absence of explicit criminal sanctions for vote buying in intra-party contests had created a significant loophole that steadily undermined the credibility of the country’s democratic system from within.
It pointed out that intra-party elections were not peripheral political activities, but decisive mechanisms through which candidates for public office were selected.
“When these processes are distorted by financial inducements and material incentives, merit, competence and genuine representation are displaced by monetary influence.
“This entrenches corruption at its earliest stages, compromises leadership selection and inevitably erodes public trust in democratic institutions and political authority,” the group said in a letter to the stakeholders.
Context
The call comes in the wake of allegations of vote buying in last Saturday’s primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat.
There were pictures of motorbikes, food items, television sets and cash being distributed by candidates and some beneficiaries confirming that they received them from a contestant.
Urgent legislative intervention
Referencing the October 9, 2023 letter, it said OccupyGhana made a clear case for urgent legislative and prosecutorial intervention to address this gap.
“We now respectfully but firmly urge your office to give renewed and serious consideration to this call, including the initiation of legislative reforms and policy measures that would expressly define and criminalise vote buying in intra-party elections, supported by effective sanctions and credible enforcement mechanisms,” the group said.
It further submitted that any such amendment should explicitly place the offences within the remit of the Office of the Special Prosecutor rather than the Office of the Attorney-General.
OccupyGhana believes vote buying in intra-party elections constituted corruption and an abuse of public trust, and hence were matters that fell squarely within the statutory mandate of the OSP.
It explained that given the inherently political nature of the offences, prosecution by an independent body was essential to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest and to reinforce public confidence in the impartial enforcement of electoral laws.
OccupyGhana said the OSP’s specialised focus and expertise in corruption-related offences positioned it to ensure more rigorous investigation, consistent enforcement, and a meaningful deterrent against electoral corruption.
“Taking these steps would signal a firm and unequivocal commitment to democratic integrity, political accountability, and the rule of law.
“It would also make clear that corruption, whether occurring at the national stage or within the internal processes that feed into it, has no place in Ghana’s constitutional democracy,” the pressure group said.
The letter was copied to the Speaker and leadership of Parliament, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, and all media houses.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh