By: Jeremiah Nutsugah
The Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Samuel Asare Akuamoah, has advised Ghanaians to resist any form of vote buying from Politicians while the elections draw nearer.
Addressing officers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) as part of this year’s Constitution Week Celebration, under the theme: “Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved,” he emphasized the importance of upholding civic duties without succumbing to financial inducements from politicians.
“This is the monetization of politics. If you are a good candidate who wants to run for election but lacks funds, you cannot do it. If you don’t pay people, they won’t vote for you. This is demand and supply in action,” he said.
He urged communities to collaborate with the NCCE to ensure that no one sells their vote.Mr. Akuamoah unequivocally condemned politicians who offer money for votes, stating, “No politician has the right to justify giving money to voters. We should not demand money from politicians. If any of our relatives or colleagues in the community are demanding money for votes, they should be held accountable.”
Drawing a stark analogy, he asked, “Can you sell something of yours and still claim ownership? No. If I sell my vote, I have lost my right to demand anything after the election.”
He stressed that selling votes undermines citizens’ ability to hold elected officials accountable, likening it to forfeiting the right to demand better conditions of service.
He lamented the current state of public service, noting, “We all have conditions of service that we are dissatisfied with, such as inadequate salaries. We make demands for better conditions from the government. However, if you sell your vote, you relinquish your right to demand better conditions.”
Mr. Asare Akuamoah also addressed the critical issue of extremist threats in the region, reminding the audience that Ghana remains one of the few countries in the West African Sahel region that has not experienced terrorist attacks.
He warned, “Criminal gangs and extremist groups exploit state weaknesses. They may promise better conditions of service to gain support, but this leads to further instability.”
