The Electoral Commission (EC) has withdrawn two polling officials following a video that showed them taking envelopes suspected as inducement at a polling station at the ongoing by-election at Ejisu.
The Commission in a statement, said the officials who are temporary staff have been withdrawn for investigations to take place.
“The Polling Station has been identified as the Fumesua Pentecost Church Polling Station with Polling Station Code F311503. The video shows a gentleman approaching the table and dropping an envelope on the table, manned by the Presiding Officer and a Ballot Issuer,” the statement said.
Ejisu By-Election: Electoral Commission withdraws two temporary staff seen in JoyNews video in which NPP MP for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko is seen dropping an envelope on the table for the officers. #ElectionHQ | #LuvFm pic.twitter.com/0bOVbndIWy
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The withdrawal of the EC officials represents one in many cases of bribery incidents happening at this election. There have been reported incidents of vote-buying, with some reports even indicating that electorates, particularly young voters, are selling their votes for GHC 150.
Ghana’s Problem with Monetization of Elections
Vote-buying in Ghana’s elections appears to have become rife lately. Last May at the Kumawu by-election and later in December at the NPP Parliamentary elections in Orphaned Constituentices, the phenomenon reached a tipping point, causing the Office of Special Prosecutor to issue arrest warrants for six persons caught on video sharing money to induce voters.
Civil actors like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the CDD condemned the acts, as vote-buying ultimately corrupts the country’s politics.
But with a major election later this year, it is almost impossible to rule out this not happening again.
