Greed, poverty fuel vote-buying in Ghana – Prof Asante Okyere

Political Science lecturer Prof Jonathan Asante Okyere at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has highlighted greed and economic hardship as the primary drivers behind vote-buying in Ghana. He emphasized that the practice jeopardizes democratic trust and provides an unfair advantage to wealthy individuals in the political arena. Prof Okyere made these remarks during the Central Regional edition of the "Democracy Is Not For Sale" program at the Centre for National Culture in Cape Coast.

He warned that the increasing monetization of elections due to vote-buying and financial inducements could lead to state capture, where political power becomes concentrated in the hands of those with substantial financial resources. Prof Okyere explained that when candidates depend on money and gifts to secure votes, the electoral process may transform into a contest of wealth rather than ideas, competence, and commitment to public service.

He attributed this trend partly to poverty and greed but emphasized that Ghana can tackle the issue by strengthening the regulatory framework governing elections. Prof Okyere also cautioned political aspirants against underestimating the intelligence and independent judgment of delegates, asserting that financial inducements do not guarantee electoral success.

He pointed out that delegates might accept gifts or money from candidates but still vote for those they perceive as having a stronger connection with their communities. Prof Okyere advised candidates not to exploit the economic struggles of delegates through inducements and warned against rubbing poverty in the faces of election officials, as such actions could backfire.

He urged a renewed commitment to democratic principles and stronger regulations to curb vote-buying and ensure that elections are decided based on the merits of the candidates rather than their financial capacity.