The Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-Africa) has publicly raised concerns about claims of vote buying that emerged from recent political party primaries in Ghana. The organisation said it is worried that allegations of corrupt practices during these internal elections could undermine the credibility of the democratic process and is calling for impartial investigations into the matter.
PTAAM-Africa noted that after the New Patriotic Party presidential primary and the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primaries, reports began circulating that individual delegates may have been offered inducements in exchange for their votes. These allegations have drawn public attention and prompted reactions from civil society and political observers alike.
According to criticism from some quarters, during the NDC parliamentary primary in the Ayawaso East constituency delegates allegedly received items such as televisions and free food, which some party members and the public view as attempts to sway votes. These claims have also led election observers and watchdogs to demand that political parties and institutions respect ethical standards in internal elections.
PTAAM-Africa stressed that investigations in such cases must be conducted fairly and without bias, ensuring that all parties and individuals are treated equally under the law and that the principles of democratic integrity are upheld. The group argued that equal application of sanctions is fundamental to building trust in Ghana’s political processes, regardless of the political affiliation of those accused.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has already begun looking into these allegations, including claims of vote buying and vote selling in both the NPP and NDC primaries. The anti-corruption body emphasised that engaging in such practices could constitute a criminal offence under Ghana’s election laws and that all evidence should be thoroughly reviewed.
Beyond legal investigations, some party officials from both sides have condemned alleged vote buying and launched internal reviews to uphold their party rules and protect their reputations. Civil society groups like PTAAM-Africa continue to advocate for transparent and accountable procedures to prevent similar issues in future elections.
