Political Analyst condemns vote buying in Ghana

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA- Mr Stephen Anak, a political analyst, has condemned the use of money and essential goods by politicians to influence voters at all levels of elections.

The practice, he said, was not only dangerous, but could also derail political efficiency and meritocracy for mediocrity in the country’s political system.

Mr Anak, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra at the weekend, mentioned money, pieces of cloths, mobile phones and food items as some of the items often used to influence the electorate.

“If the trend continues this way, it will come to a time, when only rich people will become eligible to stand for elections at all levels of our democratic dispensation.” he added.

Mr Anak told the GNA that, in countries where money influenced the voting pattern, anarchy and chaos became the order of the day since only the rich presided over the affairs of such states, instead of professionals, technocrats, the wise and the visionary who could churn out effective policies.

He said such practices had pervaded in all stages of the country’s elections including district assembly level, in-party, and presidential and parliamentary elections and could spell doom for stability, peace and the general congenial atmosphere the country was experiencing.

“The expectations of the electorate are now too high that in the very near future, they will start asking for cars as basic demands to vote for a particular candidate”, he added.

Mr Anak said the spirit of patriotism, nationalism and solidarity were waning as a result of the ‘moneycracy’ asking ‘if the candidate gives you the cloth today for a vote, will he continue to provide you with that?”

He called on politicians to adopt strategies that would help fight abject poverty, illiteracy and ignorance, rather than splashing money to influence voters.

“Ghana is not a rich country, and the use of money and other items to influence the voting pattern is dangerous, wicked and can create permanent positions to continue to rule over the intelligent but poor in society”,he concluded.