Crusaders Against Corruption (CAC), an anti-corruption civil society organisation, has strongly condemned all forms of vote buying and voter inducement in Ghana’s electoral processes, warning that the practice poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic integrity.

In a press statement, the organisation described vote buying as unlawful, unethical and dangerous to free and fair elections.

“We strongly condemn all acts of vote buying and voter inducement in the electoral process in Ghana. These practices are unlawful, unethical, and fundamentally threaten the integrity of our democratic system,” the statement said.

According to Crusaders Against Corruption, the use of cash gifts, food items or promises of material benefit to influence voters is explicitly prohibited under Ghana’s electoral laws, including the 1992 Constitution the Public Elections Regulations 2020 CI 127 and the Criminal Offences Act 1960 Act 29.

“Vote buying, whether through cash gifts, food items or promises of material benefit, is expressly prohibited under Ghana’s electoral laws,” the group stated.

The organisation stressed that such acts undermine the constitutional principles of free, fair and transparent elections and violate the sovereign right of citizens to choose their leaders without coercion.

“Such conduct violates the principles of free, fair and transparent elections guaranteed by the Constitution and undermines the sovereign right of the Ghanaian people to choose their leaders without coercion or inducement,” CAC noted.

Crusaders Against Corruption further criticised what it described as ad hoc responses to electoral corruption, warning that piecemeal actions will not address the problem.

“We do not believe that ad hoc approach and measures to this criminal act is the solution,” the statement added.

The call comes amid recent allegations of inducement during internal party elections including the New Patriotic Party presidential primary which produced Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as flagbearer and the just ended Ayawaso East National Democratic Congress parliamentary primary which saw Baba Jamal emerge winner.

Against this backdrop, the organisation made a series of demands to state authorities, insisting on strict and impartial enforcement of the law.

“The presidency should formally call the attention of the appropriate state investigative bodies to ensure absolute enforcement of the laws irrespective of who or which political party is involved,” CAC demanded.

The group also called on Parliament to act decisively.

“The legislative arm of government must exercise its oversight responsibility by ensuring that relevant state institutions are called immediately to act on the matter per the law,” the statement said.

Additionally, Crusaders Against Corruption challenged the Office of the Special Prosecutor to account for its handling of previous vote-buying cases.

“The OSP must give an immediate account to us citizens of how his office has applied these laws in the numerous alleged vote-buying cases in all previous elections that he claims are being investigated,” the organisation stated.

The statement was signed by Emmanuel Wilson Jr., Chief Crusader of Crusaders Against Corruption.