Former Auditor-General Criticizes Politicians for Vote-Buying Practices

Daniel Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, has criticized politicians for justifying the distribution of money, particularly during internal elections, under the pretext of covering transportation expenses. Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express about the issue of vote-buying, Domelevo argued that such practices were essentially strategies to influence and purchase votes. He likened the electoral process to auctions rather than genuine democratic elections, stating, “As for the politicians, they will deceive us and tell us that the money they distribute during primaries or elections is not a bribe but for transportation. They can call it whatever they want. But we are not idiots; we know these are monies to influence and buy votes.”

Domelevo urged Ghanaians to reflect on the current state of electoral practices and suggested considering measures to address the issue. He emphasized the need for a constitutional review to enhance the capabilities of the Special Prosecutor or any relevant agency in the fight against corruption. While acknowledging the challenges in combating corruption, Domelevo stressed the importance of making laws more favorable to facilitate convictions in corruption cases.

On the other hand, Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), held a different perspective. He claimed that the money given was primarily intended to motivate delegates for their dedication to building the party’s grassroots. However, he suggested that political appointees distributing money during elections should be questioned to determine the source of the funds.

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