Political analyst Samuel Boateng has described the overall organization of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency elections as largely successful, despite notable incidents of violence and vote-buying.
Reflecting on these infractions, Mr. Boateng expressed regret over the persistent influence of money and intimidation in the nation’s political landscape. He noted that Ghanaian democracy has long been plagued by such tactics from power-seeking politicians, stressing that the country must continuously fight against electoral violence and vote-buying. While acknowledging that vote-buying may never be entirely eliminated, he maintained that its prevalence can be drastically reduced through deliberate effort.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he stated, “We should acknowledge that our democracy is still growing. But I don’t understand why people should accept bribes before voting in elections, or why politicians must pay delegates before they vote for them.”
He further warned that such practices foster systemic corruption, as politicians have normalized these unethical activities. Judging by the inducement witnessed during the NDC constituency elections, Mr. Boateng cautioned that the upcoming regional and national executive contests could present even worse scenarios.
“If paying money can get people to elect executives of political parties, then we should stop voting and simply allow those who can pay more money to be declared winners,” he remarked. “The delegates and politicians see paying money for votes as normal, and it is unhealthy. Is it not also surprising that politicians pay delegates in internal elections but do not do the same in national elections?”
Looking ahead, Mr. Boateng emphasized that the NDC requires political leaders who possess the vision and capacity to engage the grassroots, unify the party, and position it to secure victory in 2028. For incumbents who lost their re-election bids, he suggested that delegates likely viewed their performance as abysmal and chose to usher in fresh leadership.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana.
