Money politics is pushing women and youth out – Inusah Fuseini

Former NDC MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, cautioned that the escalating expense of politics is excluding women and young individuals from participating in public life. During a recent interview on JoyNews’ PM Express, Fuseini explained that financial requirements were also deterring honest individuals and promoting corruption.

This concern stems from allegations of vote-buying during the NDC’s recent constituency executive elections. The party has promised to investigate legitimate complaints and penalize those found guilty. Fuseini highlighted that women and youth are bearing the brunt of money's growing influence. "Those heavily impacted by what is happening are women and the youth because they might not have the required resources to be able to do that," he said.

The financial barrier is shrinking the political arena. People with integrity and a proven track record of service are also retreating as they cannot afford the costs. Fuseini warned that the repercussions extend beyond internal party struggles. Politicians who spend significantly to secure office anticipate recovering their investment.

"A politician is not an NGO, and so when people spend that amount of money, they expect to recoup that, and that fuels corruption on a national scale," he stated. To combat inducement, Fuseini stressed the need for clear regulations. He noted that the NDC’s constitution lacks provisions granting its leadership bodies the authority to address such misconduct.

His committee recommended sanctions after acknowledging inducement had occurred, but also recognized the party’s constitution lacked a legal mechanism to tackle it. "So we need a framework," he emphasized. This framework must identify which party body should handle complaints, define acceptable spending, and differentiate legitimate support from inducement.

Fuseini questioned how the party should treat payments described as transport support when the amounts surpass reasonable travel expenses. The proposed solutions could grant constituency councils of elders the power to manage complaints or refer cases to the national leadership. Fuseini mentioned that these recommendations will undergo further review before being forwarded to a special congress for constitutional amendments.