Youth in Western Region kick against vote-buying

An increasing number of citizens, especially youths, are firmly opposing vote-buying as political campaigns heat up in the Western Region.

The youths have made the decision to put qualifications and performance record ahead of financial or material incentives provided by political candidates.

With only a few days to the December 7 elections, the subject of suspected vote-buying has returned to the forefront, with a rising number of residents, particularly young people, strongly condemning the act as political campaigns heat up in the region.

In towns and villages across the Western Region, youth groups are embarking social media campaigns and community forums to educate residents about the dangers of vote-buying.

These initiatives emphasize that accepting cash or gifts in exchange for votes undermines democracy and perpetuates poor governance.

“Politicians come to us with rice, T-shirts, or even cash, but we are telling them we are not for sale, we’re going to vote based on track record and competency, this time we are not going to sell our conscience to the politicians …We are looking for leaders who can create jobs, improve our roads, and invest in education not those who disappear after the election.” said Emmanuel Ofori, a voter in Essikadu.

This wave of resistance reflects a growing awareness of the implications of vote-buying on governance and accountability. Advocacy groups like the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) are amplifying these calls for integrity in the electoral process.

Michael Boadi, Fundraising Officer for the Ghana Integrity Initiative, has urged voters to reject candidates engaging in vote-buying practices.

“If a political candidate cannot trust the integrity of his campaign, then we can’t trust him or her with the public purse..l will urge all Ghanaian to vote against any candidate who will seek to buy their votes” he said.