Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has urged Ghanaians to stand against the endemic practice of vote buying, and not to sell their votes cheaply to politicians.
The Ghanaian electorate, she said, must demand accountability and sustainable development from their political leaders.
Beauty Narteh made the call at a training workshop for journalists on serious organized crime and political financing.
As the 2024 election draws near, the coalition emphasized the importance of wise voting decisions and the power of the electorate to shape the country’s future.
She said, “We see it all too often, our citizens accepting money from politicians, justifying it by saying they’re merely getting their share of the national cake. But what they don’t realize is that this money is their development funds being handed back to them in crumbs.”
“Accepting five or ten cedis might seem beneficial in the short term, but it’s crucial to understand that this is a gross undervaluation of what is rightfully theirs,” she added.
The coalition also pointed out the troubling trend of ‘quick fix’ development projects initiated by politicians close to election times, which often fail to withstand the test of time.
“Voters are deceived by the temporary fixes to longstanding issues. A road fixed overnight, washed away by the next rain, is a stark reminder of the deceitful practices some resort to for votes. Once your vote is cast based on these promises, it’s too late,” she added.
Beauty Narteh urged Ghanaians to prioritize the long-term development of the nation over short-term financial gains adding, “It’s high time we realized the power and mandate given to us by the constitution. We should not sell it so cheaply.”
“Development is for Ghana, and when we accept these five and ten cedis bribes, we’re essentially eating away own roads, hospitals, and future,” she stated.
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