The Majority Caucus of the National Democratic Congress in Parliament has formally called for the immediate cancellation of the party’s recently held parliamentary primary in the Ayawaso East Constituency, citing widely circulated allegations of vote buying that have cast a shadow over the integrity of the process.
The call, contained in a statement, signals a significant escalation in the party’s internal response to the controversy surrounding the contested primary.
In the statement issued from Parliament House in Accra, members of the Majority Caucus said they had taken note of the allegations that emerged following the conclusion of the Ayawaso East primary in the Greater Accra Region.
The caucus described the developments as deeply troubling, particularly at a time when the party says it is pursuing a broader agenda to reset the politics of the country and restore public confidence in democratic practice.
The caucus strongly condemned the alleged conduct, stressing that practices such as vote buying undermine the credibility of internal party elections and weaken the moral authority of political actors to demand accountability in national governance.
According to the statement, the leadership of the caucus engaged in extensive deliberations on the issue before arriving at its position. Following these discussions, the core and extended leadership of the Majority Caucus resolved to formally communicate two key demands to the Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress.
First, the caucus called for the immediate annulment of the parliamentary primary organised in the Ayawaso East Constituency. Second, it urged the party to impose sanctions on individuals found culpable, recommending that any candidate who participated in the primary and is established to have engaged in unethical conduct should be barred from contesting in any subsequent primary that may be held after the annulment.
“The NDC Majority Caucus remains committed to restoring integrity to our politics,” the statement said, underscoring the caucus’s view that decisive action is necessary to protect the credibility of the party and its internal democratic processes.
The statement was signed by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, in his capacity as Member of Parliament for Bawku Central. His endorsement of the caucus position, however, later became a factor in a separate development within the party’s internal response to the allegations.
Party’s Reaction
Reacting to the caucus statement, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, announced changes to the composition of the party’s committee investigating the reported vote buying incidents in the Ayawaso East primaries.
According to the General Secretary, former Member of Parliament and Minister, Inusah Fuseini, has been appointed to replace Mahama Ayariga on the investigative committee.
Mr Kwetey explained that Mr Ayariga’s continued membership on the committee had become untenable following the public position adopted by the Majority Caucus under his leadership. The decision to replace him, the General Secretary said, was taken in the interest of fairness, credibility, and the integrity of the investigative process.
“The party remains committed to upholding the highest integrity of its internal electoral process,” the General Secretary stated, emphasizing that the investigation would proceed independently of political pressure and preconceived conclusions.
The Ayawaso East parliamentary primary has attracted intense public attention following allegations that some aspirants engaged in the inducement of delegates. The controversy has since triggered investigations by both the party and state institutions, raising broader questions about the conduct of internal party elections and the enforcement of ethical standards.
Potential Reputational Damage
The Majority Caucus intervention reflects growing concern within the NDC about the potential reputational damage arising from unresolved allegations of corruption in party processes.
As the governing party in Parliament, the NDC faces heightened scrutiny over how it handles internal misconduct and whether it applies the same standards of accountability it demands in public governance.
The call for annulment and possible disqualification of candidates represents one of the strongest positions taken so far by a major party organ in response to alleged vote buying in a primary.
It also places pressure on the party’s Functional Executive Committee to take decisive action that balances internal unity with the need to enforce discipline. For many party supporters, the outcome of the investigation and the leadership’s response will be seen as a test of the NDC’s commitment to political reform and ethical conduct.
The party has repeatedly pledged to strengthen internal democracy and reject practices that undermine fairness and transparency. As investigations continue, the Ayawaso East case is likely to shape future discussions on regulating internal party elections and addressing the influence of money in Ghanaian politics.
Whether the primary is annulled or upheld, the decisions taken in the coming days are expected to have lasting implications for the party’s internal cohesion and public standing.
