Hon. Lambert Appiah Rockson, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinator for Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for the Ablekuma South Constituency on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket, has shared his insights on the ongoing Ayawaso East by-election. Speaking candidly about the political dynamics, monetization challenges in Ghanaian elections, and the need for strategic voting, Hon. Rockson urged constituents to prioritize competence over complacency.
Ayawaso East has long been considered a stronghold for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the party securing a commanding victory margin of over 35,000 votes in the 2024 general elections. “We all know that when it comes to Ayawaso East, it’s an NDC stronghold,” Hon. Rockson noted. “Normally, when the gap is this huge, one might think there’s no alternative and the seat will stay with them. But the NPP is determined to work tirelessly to flip it.”
Despite five candidates in the race, Hon. Rockson highlighted the main contest as a head-to-head battle between the NPP’s Baba Ali and the NDC’s Baba Jamal. He emphasized the NPP’s resolve to break through, calling on voters to make a wise choice. “Ayawaso East constituents should vote intelligently,” he advised. “They should back NPP’s Baba Ali to represent them effectively in Parliament for the long haul.”
Hon. Rockson didn’t hold back in critiquing the NDC’s track record, arguing that Ghanaians deserve better governance. “The NDC has let us down,” he stated firmly. “Look at the economy under their watch: inflation ballooned to 3.5%? No – they drove it sky-high, while flight ticket prices was One thousand nine hundred cedis (1,900) are now up to Two thousand seven hundred
(2,700) thanks to NPP efforts. Add to that their mishandling of the galamsey fight and reckless tax hikes like the 20% VAT increment , these are clear signs they’ve failed us.”
Shifting to a pressing issue in Ghanaian politics, Hon. Rockson addressed the pervasive monetization of elections, a problem he says has plagued the system for years. “Monetization has been around for a long time, but political parties have done little to curb it,” he observed. In the delegate system used for primaries, candidates inevitably cover transportation fares and other costs, fueling a cycle of financial influence. “No matter what, you have to pay for delegates’ transport. The focus should be on lowering these barriers to true merit-based selection.”
He warned that this status quo erodes democracy by sidelining credible leaders. “Everyone in Parliament today paid their way in – it’s become the norm. But it must stop because we’re not getting the best people to represent us.” To fix this, Hon. Rockson proposed broadening the electoral college beyond a small group of delegates, allowing a wider pool of voters to decide and diluting the impact of money.
In a practical appeal to candidates, he suggested a collective approach to campaigning. “When campaign time comes, all candidates should pool their resources, gather the money, and put it into one envelope to share equally among delegates for transportation,” he recommended. This way, “no one can point fingers and say, ‘This candidate gave me money, so I’ll vote for him.’ Delegates’ minds will stay clear to choose the right person, curbing vote-buying and corruption once and for all.”
Hon. Rockson’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny of the Ayawaso East by-election, triggered by recent developments in the constituency. His call for reform resonates with ongoing national debates about electoral integrity as Ghana prepares for future polls.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson#ahotorfmonline.com