NCCE’s Eastern Regional Director warns against vote buying, says poverty fuels electoral bribery

The Eastern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ophelia Nana Yaa Ankrah, has cautioned against vote buying, attributing the issue to poverty fueling electoral bribery. Speaking at a public dialogue titled "Democracy Is Not For Sale," organized by Adom Brands of the Multimedia Group Limited and the JoyNews Impact Makers Foundation, Ms Ankrah emphasized that Ghana's democratic system is built upon laws agreed upon by citizens and institutions.

She questioned the selective adherence to these laws, particularly during election times. Ms Ankrah pointed to Chapter Seven of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees eligible Ghanaians the right to vote and mandates the Electoral Commission to oversee elections. She reiterated that there is no provision in the Constitution that allows for bribery or acceptance of bribes during elections.

However, she acknowledged that poverty can create situations where people might be coerced into accepting money or other inducements during elections. Despite this, she urged citizens to understand the long-term implications of allowing money to influence their voting choices and to uphold the principles of Ghana's democratic system.