Democracy Is Not For Sale: Savannah Regional Minister calls for stronger public education to combat vote buying

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Be-Awuribe has urged for improved public education as a means to combat vote buying, asserting that an informed populace is crucial in resisting attempts to sway voters with money. He emphasized that citizens must take an active role in challenging electoral inducements to safeguard Ghana's democratic process from the growing influence of money.

Speaking at the 'Democracy Is Not For Sale' program in Damongo, Mr. Be-Awuribe urged the public not to be passive in the face of vote buying. "When the public is well educated and they themselves rise up to the challenge, then we may be far from being in the situation that we are in," he stated on September 25. He stressed that tackling vote buying should not be solely the responsibility of politicians and law enforcement, highlighting the important role citizens have in rejecting financial influences on their electoral choices.

Mr. Be-Awuribe appreciated civil society organizations and media for highlighting the issue and contributing to discussions on the impact of money on elections. He called on citizens to reject attempts by individuals to influence electoral outcomes through financial inducements, emphasizing that their consciences cannot be bought.

Mr. Be-Awuribe maintained that sustained public education and citizen participation are vital to preserving the integrity of Ghana's electoral processes.