The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has joined the growing public debate over alleged vote-buying during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.
The controversy comes ahead of the Electoral Commission’s scheduled by-election on March 3, 2026.
Mr. Cudjoe commended the Parliamentary Majority for condemning the alleged act and also praised
President John Dramani Mahama for speaking against it, describing their response as a positive step in protecting Ghana’s democratic integrity.
According to him, the NDC, as the governing party, must lead by example and set standards for others to follow, especially under the party’s so-called reset agenda.
He stressed that those involved in the alleged misconduct must be investigated, identified, and punished to serve as a deterrent. He further proposed that individuals found culpable should be banned from contesting elections for five to ten election cycles.
Mr. Cudjoe argued that Ghana must adopt a stricter approach to electoral corruption, insisting that the absence of clear legal restrictions should not be an excuse for political parties to engage in vote-buying.
He called for a test case to be established, noting that if he were in a judicial position, he would ensure offenders face firm sanctions across the country.
He maintained that the alleged vote-buying incident in Ayawaso East should not be treated lightly, warning that such practices are becoming increasingly common in Ghana’s elections.
Mr. Cudjoe concluded that making the Ayawaso East case an example could serve as the starting point in addressing the growing monetisation of Ghana’s electoral process.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku