Akwasi Amankwaa, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Kumawu, has expressed profound sadness regarding the alleged incidents of vote buying in the recently concluded bye-election in Kumawu.
Amankwaa believes that such actions are detrimental to Ghana's political and democratic progress, emphasizing the need for higher ethical standards.
During an interview on JoyNews' PM Express, Amankwaa accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of undervaluing the future of Kumawu's youth through their alleged vote-buying strategies.
In a sombre tone, he lamented the situation, stating, “It's a very sad day for Kumawu politics and Ghana politics because I'm thinking about the future of the youth, to sell their futures for GH¢50 and the NPP party… It's very pathetic.”
The Kumawu bye-election was marred by allegations of vote buying, with both major political parties trading accusations of enticing voters with gifts and cash.
Amankwaa revealed an incident involving NPP polling agents at Anananya near Bodomase, where he claimed to have witnessed the distribution of GH¢50 notes to voters near the polling station.
Describing the scene, he said, “It is very pathetic…some pretending to be blind, some pretending to be insane.”
Interestingly, some Kumawu residents have accused the NDC of employing similar tactics during the election.
A constituent alleged that the NDC also distributed items like medicine and spraying machines, suggesting that both parties engaged in such activities.
Amankwaa informed electoral officials about the occurrences but expressed disappointment in their response.
Despite his efforts, the officials claimed they lacked concrete evidence and had not witnessed the incidents themselves, making it challenging to take action.
The alleged incidents of vote buying have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the role of political parties in promoting fair and transparent elections.
