Vote-buying: NDC weighs rules to distinguish transport payments from electoral inducement

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is considering rules to differentiate between transport payments for delegates and electoral inducement, according to former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini. In an interview on Joy News' PM Express, Fuseini emphasized the need for clear standards on acceptable payments, stating that the party must determine how much money is reasonable for travel expenses.

He pointed out that declaring the purpose of a payment does not necessarily resolve the issue, as the amount could still exceed what a delegate requires for transportation. The committee reviewing the party's constitution is working on establishing a framework for handling such cases, including determining which party body can investigate complaints and impose sanctions.

Fuseini acknowledged that the current constitution lacks legal mechanisms to address vote-buying, which could leave disciplinary decisions open to challenges. The party is exploring two options: empowering constituency councils of elders to handle cases locally or referring offenders to the national headquarters, where the Functional Executive Committee would take action.

Fuseini warned that the growing financial demands of politics are deterring women, young people, and individuals with integrity from participating in elections. Some potential candidates lack the resources to compete, while others are withdrawing due to the excessive spending involved. He argued that heavy spending puts pressure on politicians to recoup their money after winning office, which can lead to corruption at a national level.