Franklin Cudjoe calls on Ghanaians to reject vote-selling and prioritize long-term progress

The Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged Ghanaians to embrace peaceful and responsible voting ahead of the 2024 general elections.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, November 4, 2024, he stressed the importance of making informed choices that align with a vision of respect, truth, accountability, and progress.

Mr. Cudjoe called on voters to prioritize long-term development over short-term material gains. He cautioned against selling votes for items such as cars, houses, or foodstuffs, stressing that such exchanges devalue the electorate’s collective power to demand sustainable solutions to issues like poverty, healthcare, and education.

He challenged voters to critically assess promises made by political candidates, particularly their plans to ensure continuous support for vulnerable groups and policies that enable citizens to earn a dignified living. By doing so, he argued, Ghanaians could secure a predictable future for themselves and future generations.

He encouraged voters to see themselves as valuable contributors to national progress, likening them to gold that illuminates the path to overcoming challenges such as poverty and disease. He underscored the sacred nature of voting as a tool for fostering development and called for its exercise devoid of violence or coercion.