The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of engaging in vote buying during the ongoing Assin North by-elections.
According to the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP, he witnessed instances of vote-buying at some 10 areas close to polling stations in the constituency.
He said the electorates in Assin North have been offered various sums of money ranging from GH¢200 to GH¢300 before or after casting their votes.
Speaking to newsalertgh.com during one of his monitoring rounds of the by-election, Dr Forson called on the Ghana Police Service to take immediate action and apprehend all individuals involved in the alleged vote-buying scheme.
“I don’t understand why the NPP would impoverish the people and come and give them money (during election day). It is so sad, it is so shameful and we are asking the police to immediately ensure that within a 5-kilometre radius, nobody is allowed to be sharing money of this magnitude.
“I am shocked with what I have seen here. Our democracy is dying, NPP is killing our democracy, they have changed it to moneycracy… I have seen 10 different houses where they are sharing the money. I can take you there, they are sharing GH¢200 and GH¢300,” he said.
Dr Forson further alleged that the money being distributed likely originated from government funds, emphasizing that it was a disgraceful act. He questioned the source of the funds, suggesting that state money was being utilized for vote-buying purposes.
“It is a shame, GH¢200, GH¢300 per person. I wonder where this money is coming from. Is this not state money, it is only from state money that you can be able to share money in this magnitude,” he added.
He expressed disappointment and criticized the NPP for impoverishing the people and then offering them money on election day.
He described the situation as saddening and shameful, urging the police to enforce a ban on the distribution of such large sums of money within a 5-kilometre radius of polling stations.
