Political analyst Dr. Samuel Afriyie has joined the growing debate surrounding allegations of vote buying during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency, ahead of the by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Dr. Afriyie said he would be pleased if the NDC takes firm and decisive action to address the matter, noting that the party has other internal elections ahead, including contests for national executive positions and other regional party structures.
According to him, as the governing party, the NDC’s response to the allegations will send a strong signal to the public and the political space, stressing that failure to act could damage the party’s credibility and further undermine Ghana’s democratic process.
He stated that implementing the recommendations of the committee set up by the party to investigate the alleged vote buying would be a positive step and could help restore confidence among party members and the general public.
Dr. Afriyie described the situation as embarrassing and disgraceful, arguing that Ghana’s democracy is being weakened by the increasing monetisation of elections, where voters are allegedly influenced through the distribution of televisions and other items.
He emphasized that if any individual has fallen victim to such practices, the party must treat the issue seriously to protect the integrity of its electoral processes.
Dr. Afriyie further suggested that cancelling the just-ended Ayawaso East primaries, if necessary, would send a clear warning to party members and serve as a strong deterrent against future incidents of vote buying.
He concluded that bold action from the NDC would not only restore confidence within the party but also reinforce the message that the party is committed to upholding democratic principles.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku