Haruna Iddrisu accuses NPP of open vote buying, labels it ‘criminal’

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of openly offering money to voters to influence their choices.

In an interview with the press after casting his vote, Iddrisu strongly condemned the NPP for what he termed the "commercialisation" of the electoral process, where financial inducements are used to sway voter decisions.

The opposition MP described this practice as a blatant violation of Ghana’s electoral laws, arguing that it undermined the integrity of the democratic process and reduced elections to mere transactions.

"Under the NPP, it's no longer seen as an offence to openly buy votes and demonstrate that elections are all about the exchange of money. This is inducement, and it's a criminal act under our electoral laws," Iddrisu said, delivering a harsh critique of the governing party during the 2024 elections.

"This is a clear breach of the law. It is a criminal act, and it’s a disgrace to our democracy," he continued. "Elections should be about the people’s choice, not about who can buy votes," he said.

Iddrisu’s comments come amid growing concerns about the influence of money in Ghana’s elections. He argued that the NPP's actions not only compromised the fairness of the election but also tarnished the reputation of the country's political system.

He fiercely criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for reducing the electoral process to financial transactions, warning that such practices send a dangerous message that democracy is for sale.

The former Minority Leader did not hold back in his condemnation, pointing fingers at President Akufo-Addo’s administration for permitting these unethical practices under their leadership. Iddrisu lamented that under the current government, Ghana had descended into "low levels of governance," with a worrying disregard for the rule of law.

“I am deeply disappointed that the NPP and the Akufo-Addo administration have subjected the nation to these shameful levels of governance,” Iddrisu stated. “This is not how democracy is supposed to function. It’s unacceptable, and we must not allow this to become the norm in Ghana,” he said.

Iddrisu also recounted an incident at a polling station in Tamale, where NPP supporters were allegedly chased away for attempting to distribute money to voters. He called this behaviour a clear violation of democratic principles and added that such actions have no place in a free and fair society.

“That kind of conduct is totally unacceptable and shameful,” he said. “It undermines the very foundation of our democracy.”

The MP expressed deep concern over the long-term impact of such practices on the country’s electoral integrity. “If this continues, it will be a sad day for our democracy. The people of Ghana deserve better than this,” he warned.

Iddrisu urged the public to remain vigilant and to reject any efforts to manipulate the electoral process. He also called on the Electoral Commission to take stronger action to enforce the country’s electoral laws, ensuring that the upcoming elections are conducted fairly and without interference.