'No money, no vote' — Bongo NPP delegates tell contestants in constituency executive elections

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Research and Elections Officer for the Bongo Constituency in the Upper East Region, Ake'ema-Kapoe Lawrence, has disclosed that some delegates demanded money from aspirants before casting their ballots during the party's recently held constituency executive elections.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, the former Assembly Member for the Nayorigo Electoral Area said the election recorded an impressive turnout of about 90 percent. However, he noted that voting got off to a slow start, as many delegates were walking around rather than participating in the voting process.

According to him, election officials had to repeatedly encourage delegates to cast their ballots, only to discover that many were waiting to receive money from aspirants before voting.

"They said they were waiting to get food before they could vote," Lawrence explained.

When asked whether delegates were expecting the party to provide meals, he clarified that they were rather waiting for contestants to give them money to buy food before casting their votes.

Lawrence's comments have added to ongoing discussions about the need to strengthen internal democratic processes and discourage practices that could undermine the credibility of party elections.

The NPP conducted constituency executive elections across the country as part of efforts to elect new local executives to steer the affairs of the party ahead of election 2028.