Occupy Ghana is pushing to make vote buying in party primaries a criminal offense, citing concerns that current laws don’t cover internal party elections. The group argues that this loophole allows corruption to thrive, undermining democratic integrity. They’re urging Parliament to amend the Criminal Offences Act and the Representation of the People Act to include party primaries.
The call comes after allegations of vote buying surfaced during the NDC parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East and the NPP presidential primaries. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched investigations into these allegations.
Occupy Ghana wants the OSP, rather than the Attorney-General, to handle prosecutions, citing the need for impartiality. Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Victor Smith, has also condemned vote buying, stating it “manufactures corruption after elections”.
