By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Defeated aspiring Ashanti Region Chairman in the just-ended executive elections of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Robert Asare Bediako has revealed how he paid at least GH¢1,000 to each delegate on the election day.
The defeated aspirant explained that but for the monetization before and during the elections, he would have won the election hands down but close contenders were the highest bidders.
Mr. Asare Bediako, while sharing his bitter experience with the media on Monday, May 30, 2022, has this to say: “whiles I was paying each delegate GH¢1,000, I thought I would win but some paid more than me so the delegates also gave in to the highest bidder and it’s very worrying the trend of monetization in our body politics”.
The just ended Ashanti Region executive elections brought together over 800 delegates from the 47 constituencies across the region to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, 28, May 2022.
After the election, the incumbent chairman, Mr. Benard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, sailed through with 464 votes while his close contender Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, managed some 306 votes.
Asare Bediako, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, and Oheneba Kofi Adum Bawuah polled 22, 9, and 3 votes respectfully.
Meanwhile, Mr. Asare Bediako, who lost the election, is worried about the increasing trend of monetization in the political spheres during elections.
He appealed to the national executives to have a second look at the Electoral College system, which he says allows gross corruption and contributes to monetization.
The defeated aspirant, however, called for all hands to be on deck after the elections to ensure the NPP “breaks the eight” in 2024.
“After this election, let’s try and put behind all grievances and differences and back the elected executives to maintain NPP in power.”