More public education needed to stop vote-buying – Savannah Region MP

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Be-Awuribe has urged for enhanced public education as a means to combat vote buying, asserting that an informed electorate is vital in resisting monetary influence on voters. He stated that by educating citizens about the significance of their votes and motivating them to challenge electoral inducements, Ghana's democratic process can be safeguarded from the increasing impact of money.

During an interview with JoyNews at the 'Democracy Is Not For Sale' program in Damongo, Mr Be-Awuribe emphasized that the public must not be passive when confronted with 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 remarked on September 25.

He further explained that the responsibility to tackle vote buying should not be limited to politicians and law enforcement agencies, but rather citizens must also play a crucial role in rejecting efforts to sway their electoral decisions with money.

Mr Be-Awuribe acknowledged the commendable efforts of civil society organizations and media houses in bringing the issue to the forefront and contributing to discussions on the effects of money on electoral processes. He urged citizens to reject any attempts by individuals to manipulate electoral outcomes through financial inducements, asserting that the public must take an active stance against vote buying.

"The public should revolt against them and know that their conscience cannot be bought," he asserted. In his opinion, sustained public education and citizen participation are pivotal in maintaining the integrity of Ghana's electoral processes.