Disqualify All 'Bribing' Aspirants In The Ayawaso East NDC Primary and Rerun Election; It is Rawlings' Wish

What is known to be the trademark and reserve of the Professor Frimpong Boateng's recently diagnosed 'Fake' New Patriotic Party (NPP) party seem to have sadly infected the Ayawaso East constituency of National Democratic Party (NDC).

Clearly many are left wildly surprised at the videos circulating on social media giving credence to the alleged voter inducement during the February 7, 2026, NDC primaries to select a candidate to contest in the upcoming by-elections, occasioned after the demise of the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso East constituency, the late Hon. Mahama Toure Nazer.

It appears the contestants alleged to have bribed voters with cash, electronic gadgets and food forgot the 'democratic' part of their political party's name.

If such alleged bribery took place in just a primaries with defense from some being just a gift not meant to induce the voter, what then would be that gift on the day before or on the day of the bi-election?

If any contestant was obsessed with gifting, why a day before voting or voting day?

President Rawlings indeed was a visionary. He saw some of these isolated incidents long ago looking for an opportunity to creep into the the NDC party, and he chose one of their biggest rally then in support for the current president H.E. John Mahama at their campaign launch ahead of the 2016 presidential election national, and begged for the listening ears of the teaming party members when he stood behind the podium and delivered his famous 'NPP cannot be under estimated caution.

He said "...the NPP cannot be underestimated; you know it, I know it. They have been in existence for a long time and have been changing their names up till this day. The nature of who they are, what they are, where they have come from, is something they are happy with

and they will be there for a long time. Let us not mimic their behavior; let us reach into the principles and values that came..that emerged out of the circumstances that gave birth to us; and if we can hold onto that principles and those values, we will move way into the future and no one can ever defeat us. We will ride and overide any obstacle as we did in the past".

Coincidentally, president Mahama is the sitting president, and when an incubent party members, including a serving official in his government, and in no less a capacity than 'High Commisioner' to a neighboring West African country is alleged to be involved in this disgraceful mimicking of the NPP, especially when the same act was recently awakened at their just ended presidential primaries and being condemn by the citizenry. The condemnation grew when videos depicting huge sums of money in cash and digitized; courtesy 'Momo' shared to some delegates to render their brains and thumbs sold to the highest bidder to help them recognize them on ballot papers bastadizing democracy were circulating.

The NDC as a party has quickly come out officially to condemn the alleged bribery of voters and promised investigation with a possible rerun.

The presidency has also swiftly released a statement condemning reports of voter inducement and releaved the High Commissionet to Nigetia from post effective immediately as investigations by the party structures continue.

The NDC must thoroughly investigate and disqualify all those who are found to have bribed voters in any form, including gifts and food on voting day not to contest the rerun of the election. This will send a strong message to future potential culprit.

In Ghana, the Criminal code of 1960 sections 240 and 241 clearly confirms vote buying to be an offence seen as a corrupt act.

Section 240, frowns upon the voter who agrees to be influenced directly or indirectly with a gift, promise, or propect of any valuable consideration to be received by him or her, as having involved in a currupt act.

Section 241 on the other hand talks sees the politician who influences that voter to have indulged in a corrupt act as well.

Ayawaso East deserves an MP that will be a positive influence on the constituents, one who will use his or her influence to bring them development and advocate their grievances in the chamber, not one who will pay them or gift them to influence their votes, making mockery of their civic liberty.

I rest My PEN.
Mustapha Alhassan
Pennsylvania, USA