Tensions are running high in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, with Helga Boadi, a representative of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of bribing special voters ahead of the December 7 elections. Boadi claims that the NPP was openly distributing cash at her polling center but switched to mobile money transfers when they realized they were being monitored .
The accusations have sparked a wave of public reactions, with both parties trading blame. The NPP has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. Kwabena Owusu, an NPP spokesperson, dismissed the claims as an attempt to discredit their party .
Election observers have called for calm and urged all parties to uphold the Electoral Commission's guidelines. Professor Lydia Mensah, a political analyst, emphasized that any form of voter inducement is a threat to the credibility of Ghana's democratic process .
The allegations of vote-buying have raised concerns about the integrity of the elections. Special voters at the center had mixed reactions to the allegations, with some admitting to hearing rumors of vote-buying, while others claimed they had not witnessed any such activities .
The NDC has accused the NPP of attempting to buy votes, while the NPP has denied the allegations. The Electoral Commission has called for calm and urged all parties to respect the electoral process .
As the elections approach, tensions are expected to rise. The NDC and NPP are the two main contenders in the elections, and the outcome is expected to be closely contested. The allegations of vote-buying have added to the tension, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold .