A political analyst has expressed alarm about the monetization of elections, specifically the just concluded Ejisu by-election.
Mr. Emmanuel Alex Nti says the monetization of our elections in recent times is a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
According to him, it is regrettable that a country that values democracy is indulging in this conduct.
He said that we cannot allow this to continue because it breeds corruption among public officials who are elected to government.
The Ejisu by-election was an example where funds and other items were shared to influence voters to vote for a specific candidate, he lamented.
He stated that if the videos circulating on social media are to be believed, it is regrettable that individuals are paying to buy votes.
In certain instances, candidates may spend more than they earn in public office, leading to corrupt practices when they have the opportunity to serve, ultimately recouping their election investment.
“The election was a success because there were no casualties or violent incidents reported. However, the election’s monetization was not terrible. Although this has become a regular occurrence in our elections, it is a bad habit.
Monetization is bad for democracy. When you look at some of the videos some of us have sighted, if they are accurate portrayals of what happened during the election, they are not the best and pretty tragic. As a people who wish to build this country’s democracy, we cannot allow this crisis to continue. Sometimes these MPs’ salaries are less than what they invest in their elections, so the question is, what exactly in Parliament is someone prepared to spend, say, Ghc1000 on an election when their pay is only Ghc300?
Sometimes these politicians spend more than ten times what they earn in an election, which encourages corruption. It is my candid opinion that we should investigate some of these issues. That is why I propose that our anti-corruption organisations, like as the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and the Office of Special Prosecutor, look into some of these issues.”
He emphasized the importance of Ghanaians viewing elections as civic responsibilities, urging them to vote for policies that promote the country’s development, rather than accepting money from unqualified candidates who may lead to poor governance.
He believes that better public education on the subject will help to accomplish this.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana