The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has cautioned Ghanaians against the disparaging phenomenon of vote buying and selling, a practice exacerbating political corruption and impeding national advancement.
Mr Ernest Antwi, a Senior Civic Officer with the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District of the Commission, expressed concern about the disturbing trend where aspirants purchased votes to secure their positions.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said the objectives of these candidates were to recover their investments through dubious means, thereby impeding the progress of the nation.
He acknowledged that while poverty played a role in this behaviour, integrity must remain paramount in the electoral process, emphasising that no amount of monetary inducement should sway voters from fulfilling their civic duty with honesty.
Vote buying typically involved the offering of gifts, money, or other incentives in exchange for votes during elections, he explained.
Mr Antwi recounted recent occurrences during the parliamentary primaries of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) where the unethical practice was widespread.
He said the practice could be described not only as “unethical” but also “illegal,” as the Representation of the People’s Act, 1992 (Act 284) explicitly prohibited vote buying, with legal repercussions for offenders.
Moreover, the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) criminalises bribery in elections, underscoring the severe legal consequences of such actions.
Mr Antwi also cautioned Ghanaians against engaging in hate speech, warning that it could incite conflict in the lead-up to the General Election.
Citizens, he indicated, must be mindful of their words, as individuals react differently to what they hear, which could lead to misunderstandings and animosity.
“It is unacceptable for politicians to propagate insults on social media, as it may incite violence. Let us strive for change and refrain from such negative discourse,” he noted.
He implored Ghanaians to elect their leaders based on thorough evaluation, rather than resorting to attacking and disparaging their political adversaries.
“Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and without it, democratic societies falter. Democracy flourishes when citizens actively engage,” he said advising people to eschew misinformation and disinformation to avoid misunderstanding and discord during the electioneering period.
He warned that as the elections approached, misinformation could be rampant, with people exploiting social media to advance their agenda of disseminating false and misleading information.
He advised the media against offering their platforms for politicians to use their influence to insult their opponents or incite violence, saying the culture of insults and ethnic divisive campaigning was becoming a significant menace to Ghana’s democracy.
Mr Antwi identified encouraged all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring peaceful Election 2024.
GNA