Vote buying allegations have taken centre stage in the ongoing parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of attempting to manipulate the outcome through monetary inducements.
In a strongly worded statement, Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, described the stakes in the election as nothing short of a national safeguard against what he termed a “parliamentary dictatorship.”
“We saw the reports going around yesterday about the Jubilee House bringing 10 million into their constituency for just 19 polling stations, 10 million”
Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Aboagye referenced viral reports of voter inducement, citing a video circulating on social media in which a voter claimed he had received GHS 100 via mobile money from the NDC parliamentary candidate.
“He’s on record. The gentleman said he received momo and this can be verified because all we need to do is to go to MTN and actually verify whether he’s lying or not.
“Why are we selling our democracy? Why are we buying the will of the people? Ablekuma North is voting and it must be free and fair”
Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The broader context of the rerun adds significant political weight to the accusations. With President John Dramani Mahama’s NDC currently holding a majority in Parliament, a win in Ablekuma North would give the party a decisive two-thirds majority.
“Ablekuma North people are not just voting for a leader, they are voting to halt the possibility of handing over this country’s constitution into the hands of one group of people for them to manipulate and do whatever they want”
Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
TNT, Not Vote Buying
In a swift response, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo dismissed the vote buying allegations and challenged the NPP’s moral high ground. “This is not news. I mean in every election there is vote buying. So if we are buying votes they should also buy their votes,” she said on the grounds.
Speaking on the issue of transportation allowances for voters, Hon. Ocloo justified the practice as logistical support rather than inducement.
“We have members who traveled all the way from Kumasi to come and vote. So if for such people to come and go vote you have to give them TNT, I don’t think it’s vote buying”
Hon. Linda Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister
Pressed further on whether this undermines the integrity of the electoral process, she questioned the interpretation of integrity in such contexts. Hon. Ocloo admitted to personally coordinating transportation for voters across multiple towns, cities and regions.
“If someone is loyal to you, the person will vote for you with or without money. If someone loves you, the person loves you, irrespective of what you give to the person. I don’t think giving the person TNT is going to affect the integrity of the process”
Hon. Linda Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister
Hon. Ocloo further pushed back against the characterization of the practice as vote buying, defending her actions as a necessity for ensuring voter participation rather than electoral corruption.
She candidly expressed that such financial support could not influence voter choice and should not be taken out of context for the sake of politics.
“We are not giving money, point of correction – we are supporting them with their TNT. If someone calls that he or she doesn’t have transport and I say ‘okay pick an Uber and come and vote – when you come let me pay the Uber fare,’ and I pay, is it vote buying?”
Hon. Linda Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister
The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun is currently one of the most politically charged electoral events in recent years, with its outcome expected to influence the legislative balance of power.
The Electoral Commission, the Ghana Police Service, and election observers are under pressure to maintain credibility in the process as the political rhetoric escalates.
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