By Ashiadey Dotse
As the 2024 general election draws near, politicians are increasingly focused on securing high offices, often resorting to various tactics to sway voters.
A recent report by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) highlights the prevalence of vote-buying as a significant factor influencing election outcomes in Ghana. The report defines vote-buying as part of a broader practice known as clientelism, where goods and services are exchanged for political support during election campaigns or on Election Day.
Despite the existence of laws aimed at curbing such practices, vote-buying continues to be a growing concern, threatening the stability of the country’s democratic framework.
The report reveals regional variations in the awareness of vote-buying, with the North East region showing the highest awareness at 21.7%. In contrast, more than 10% of voters in regions such as Savannah, Upper East, and Western reported a lack of understanding of the concept.
The report, launched on October 23, 2024, in Accra, identified poverty and economic vulnerability as the primary drivers behind vote-buying. It noted that nearly four out of every ten respondents believe vote-buying is highly prevalent, with 38.5% perceiving it as a common issue in Ghanaian elections.
The findings also indicate that many voters have experienced attempts to buy their votes, with Western North recording the highest rate at 27.9%, while the Ashanti and Savannah regions both reported rates of 15.4%.
Despite these trends, a significant portion of the electorate—46.3% of respondents—stated they were unlikely to participate in vote-buying activities, suggesting some resistance to the practice. However, around 17.8% admitted they would consider accepting incentives before casting their votes. The report also highlighted gender differences, with 18.7% of females compared to 16.8% of males willing to accept such offers.
The NCCE’s research further revealed that 35.1% of respondents know someone who has been approached with incentives for their vote, while 19.3% confirmed that they had been targeted. This underscores the significant impact of vote-buying on election results in the country.
A majority of respondents—64.3%—agreed that vote-buying affects the integrity of elections in Ghana. The report warned that this practice could undermine the principles of free and fair elections, promote corruption, distort representation and accountability, erode public trust in the electoral system, and potentially lead to violence, conflict, and social unrest.
Additionally, over half of the respondents (56.7%) felt that the government was not doing enough to combat vote-buying. This lack of confidence extends to the upcoming 2024 general election, with more than 50% of voters doubting that the election will be free of vote-buying or genuinely fair.
The NCCE report serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need to address vote-buying to protect the integrity of Ghana’s democracy and ensure that elections reflect the true will of the people.