Former Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North in the Ashanti Region, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has raised concerns about the growing influence of money in Ghana’s political system, warning that it could lead to the election of unqualified and dangerous individuals into Parliament.
According to him, whenever people get the opportunity to influence delegates through financial inducements, the outcome is often the selection of the wrong candidates.
He explained that in such situations, those who invest the most money into the political process usually emerge victorious, regardless of competence or integrity.
Mr Appiah-Kubi further expressed worry that in recent times, individuals with questionable sources of wealth are increasingly using what he described as “dirty money” to penetrate Ghana’s political space.
He noted that in the past, such individuals mainly used their money to sponsor candidates, but the trend has changed significantly.
“Previously, they used dirty money to sponsor others, but now they are using the same money to sponsor themselves,” he stated.
He warned that this development poses a major threat to Ghana’s democracy, as it could result in a Parliament dominated by individuals with criminal backgrounds.
“If we end up having criminals in Parliament simply because they have the resources to fund their own campaigns, they will eventually work against the laws of the state,” he cautioned.
Andy Appiah-Kubi made the remarks while speaking on the increasing number of people seeking parliamentary seats without undergoing proper scrutiny and accountability checks.
He therefore called for stronger measures to ensure that individuals aspiring to Parliament are properly vetted to safeguard the integrity of the country’s legislature.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku