Lambert Appiah Rockson, popularly known as ‘Sir Cocroach’, the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South, has urged delegates of the ruling party not to vote for pretenders, or selfish and greedy politicians to lead the ‘elephant family’.
He warned that electing such individuals will deprive the party of responsible, committed, and dedicated personalities who genuinely have the interests of the NPP and Ghana at heart.
Appearing on the weekend morning show on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM with host Eddie Ray, he said delegates must not allow people to use money and other valuables to buy their votes, especially when those individuals lack the necessary skills and qualities to run the party.
He told the host that one of the major challenges affecting elections in Ghana—especially internal elections within the two major political parties—is monecracy. He lamented that the political space has allowed money to influence democratic processes, a situation he warned remains a threat to Ghana’s democracy and civic responsibility.
He revealed that from a personal survey he conducted, about 70 per cent of people who put themselves forward to be elected as party leaders do not have the party at heart, with some entering politics purely for business purposes.
“Where we have gotten to, we need people who have the NPP at heart and not those who would want to use money in influencing delegates to vote for them. We need people who will die for the party. We need the likes of the late Obetsebi-Lamptey, Sir John, Da Rocha and other personalities who sacrificed for the NPP.”
The young politician stressed that delegates often know those who truly care about the party but refuse to vote for them simply because they do not have the financial means to offer bribes.
“The patriotic spirit of the NPP must rise. We need people who will bring new vibes into the party. Vote for those who will bring new energies and revive the NPP from the base level to the National level.”
To curb this trend, Lambert Appiah Rockson advised both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to introduce a new system where candidates contesting internal polls collectively fund the transport logistics of delegates, rather than allowing individual candidates to provide them with cash directly.
While admitting that the monetisation of politics cannot be completely eradicated, he maintained that it can be significantly reduced.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana