The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), have again been cited for indulging in vote buying barely a week to the December 7 elections.
According to the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), both NDC and NPP parliamentary candidates, were seen giving money to people and women groups in some communities, in the Tolon Constituency of the Northern region.
[contextly_sidebar id=”dCTqGZZaLJqeqawg4MSVLXf8Sy53fSJE”]A pre-election environment observation statement from CODEO also noted that, there were “there reports that, some parliamentary candidates distributed plastic chairs to some groups in some communities.”
“Similarly, both the NDC and NPP were reported to be busing people to rally grounds, for instance in the Mampong and Kwabre East constituencies in the Ashanti region and Ellembele constituency in the Western Region,” the statement added.
CODEO’s long-term observers also reported seeing politicians give money and other valuables to electorates in order to influence their vote.
For instance, on October 14, 2016, an aspiring Member of Parliament in Sefwi Akontobra gave money to parents of some Senior High School (SHS) students and university students to settle their school fees.
Chiefs engaging in partisan politics
CODEO’s observers also reported that, some chiefs “have flouted the constitution and elections rules” by actively participating in partisan politics.
As an example, CODEO cited some chiefs in the Kasulyili traditional area and Nyankpala traditional area in the Northern Region, as having actively engaged in partisan politics by attending functions of the governing NDC and also canvassing for votes in their communities for the NDC.
Find below the full CODEO statement here
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana