Dr.Rasheed Draman
The Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs – ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman has expressed concern over the increasing occurrences of vote buying by politicians during elections in Ghana. Vote buying refers to the practice of candidates using money or other incentives to influence voters to support them.
According to Dr. Draman, it is evident that individuals with deep pockets are winning over the electorate with their financial resources, while experienced and competent candidates are being overlooked. He believes that this trend does not bode well for Ghana’s democracy.
Dr. Draman stated that some potential candidates have chosen not to run for office due to the replacement of qualified individuals with candidates who have large amounts of money but lack proper education or preparedness for parliamentary responsibilities. This situation could have a negative impact on the quality of parliamentarians and their ability to effectively fulfill their duties.
He further went on and pointed out that new MPs often face challenges attending to parliamentary business, leading to difficulties in achieving a quorum. Additionally, the lack of sufficient induction and preparation for new entrants into parliament exacerbates the problem. He expressed concern that if this issue persists, Ghana’s democracy will become a system where the highest bidder prevails, potentially allowing illicit funds and national security risks to infiltrate the political system.
Dr. Draman warned that if no action is taken, Ghana may face a crisis in the next two election cycles. He emphasized that candidates with financial resources will dominate while experienced MPs without substantial wealth will be sidelined, undermining both democracy and national security. He called for an investigation into the funding sources of these wealthy candidates and the interests behind their support, emphasizing the importance of considering these implications on the quality of Ghana’s democracy.
