Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), has raised concerns about the dangers posed by the prevalence of vote-buying and vote-selling in Ghana, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the country’s democratic principles.
During the Constitution Day public lecture, held on Monday, January 8, under the theme “Reflections on our democracy: The Constitution, Elections, and the Judiciary,” organized by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and One Ghana Movement, Dr. Afari-Gyan characterized the practice as a “shameful spectacle.”
In his address, he highlighted the alarming shift from discreet transactions of the past, stating, “What we have now looks like an open market where candidates can freely buy votes and citizens can freely sell their votes in broad daylight while we all look on unconcerned.”
Dr. Afari-Gyan expressed deep concern over the implications of this open market for vote-buying and vote-selling, contending that it weakens the democratic process by compromising the ability of citizens to hold elected leaders accountable through elections. He stressed that these practices undermine two fundamental principles of democracy: the notion that citizens choose their leaders freely and the idea that accountability is maintained through elections.
In concluding his remarks, Dr. Afari-Gyan warned that a democracy falters when election results cease to accurately reflect the people’s verdict on leaders’ performance, emphasizing the need to address the challenges posed by the open market for vote-buying and vote-selling.