The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has chided the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuoguon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan for allegedly sharing food during the special voting at the East Legon Police Station on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Videos circulating on social media captured the MP, Madam Lydia Alhasan who is seeking for another term, sharing food for some service persons who had queued to vote in the just ended special voting exercise.
Madam Lydia Alhasan initially denied the allegation while granting an interview but has later defended her action stating that she did it void any malicious intentions.
The incident, which occurred at the Legon Police Station polling centre, sparked public debate about voter influence and electoral ethics.
In an interview with the media, Lydia Alhassan explained that the situation began when one of the personnel who was in queue requested for water.
Her women’s organiser provided the water, and observing others in need, the MP extended the gesture to those who appeared tired or hungry.
However, Dr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of CHRAJ, while addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, said that the actions of the Member of Parliament can be tagged as corruption.
Dr. Whittal said, “It is not right to treat as in the legal term, to share food, to share money to anybody in the queue in preparation to vote. It is tantamount to corruption and integrity issues.”
“So having seen that it could happen to even security officials, we have always assumed that that will not be the case. It never happened in the past but this time round, it seems it has happened so we will factor that into our next election,” he added.
Source: Richard Nana Appiah Kubi/Ahotoronline.com
