'If I give money to someone to buy food, is that vote-buying?' - Kumawu MP

The Member of Parliament for Kumawu constituency in the Ashanti Region, Ernest Yaw Anim, has responded to vote-buying allegations leveled against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the just-ended Ejisu by-elections.

According to him, it is not wrong for a candidate contesting an election to sponsor his/her supporters financially to cover their food and transport on the day of voting, contrary to public opinion on what happened.

He disclosed that in the just-ended Ejisu by-elections, almost all the candidates involved made similar financial provisions for their supporters, yet the public is castigating only the NPP.

Speaking in an interview with Oyerepa TV and monitored by GhanaWeb, Ernest rubbished claims that the NPP influenced people with money to win the Ejisu by-elections.

During the interview, Kwesi Parker Wilson asked, "There are claims that there are no jobs for the youth, yet you invested heavily in this election, so you bought your way to victory."

The Kumawu MP responded calmly, saying "Can somebody pinpoint a candidate who campaigned for an election without spending money? Everyone who contests an election spends money in one way or the other. Don't they buy food for their supporters?

"So, if I sponsor someone's feeding in the form of giving the person money, is that vote-buying? Other candidates did the same for their supporters. We gave them food and money to cater for their transport."

His remark follows a video that surfaced online showing the Kwadaso MP, Prof Kingsley Nyarko, dropping an envelope on a table where Electoral Commission (EC) officials were stationed, during the Ejisu elections.

The EC's investigation later revealed that the MP said he told the officials to use the money for their lunch.

However, a section of the public has rejected the claims, calling for the MP to be dealt with to prevent similar occurrences in the near future.

Meanwhile, the NPP's candidate, Kwabena Boateng, defeated his closest contender, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, to win the Ejisu by-elections.

Watch the video below

Ejisu by-election

We didn't induce electorates to vote for Lawyer Kwabena Boateng, we only gave them TnT - Kumawu MP, Ernest Anim#ElectionField pic.twitter.com/43poEIlt9F

— Oyerepa TV/FM (@oyerepaofficial) May 1, 2024