'Inducements in internal party elections do not augur well for Ghana’s democracy' – Elvis Darko

The Managing Editor of the Newscenta newspaper, Elvis Darko, has condemned reported voter inducements and acts of violence during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency elections, describing the developments as a threat to Ghana’s democracy.

He said some candidates allegedly distributed cash, mobile phones and other items to delegates in an attempt to secure votes during the elections held across the country on Saturday, October 24.

Mr Darko argued that such practices undermine the credibility of internal party elections and raise concerns about the values of political parties seeking public office.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily programme on Monday, October 26, the veteran journalist said Ghana continues to struggle with voter inducement despite more than three decades of constitutional rule under the Fourth Republic.

“It's interesting how, for 30-something years in the Fourth Republic, we are still struggling to deal with this thing of inducement in internal elections,” he said.

Mr Darko said the problem is particularly pronounced when a political party is in government, as some aspirants and delegates sought to benefit from the opportunities associated with political power.

He argued that some party members views internal elections as an opportunity to receive money and other benefits, especially when they believed they have limited chances of securing government appointments or contracts.

The journalist also cited reports of delegates openly displaying cash, mobile phones and other items they claimed to have received from candidates.

He said the willingness of some recipients to publicly discuss the items they had received show how normalised the practice had become in internal party contests.

“We want to elect people to various political party offices within the party to govern the party in ways that, when the party becomes a governing party, it will reflect in the governance style of the party,” he added.