The Upper East Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Peter Ayinbisa Ayamaga, has called on political parties in Ghana to expand their electoral colleges to allow all registered card-bearing members to vote during internal party primaries, describing the move as a key solution to the growing problem of monetisation and vote-buying in party elections.
Hon. Ayamaga made the call while speaking on the BlueWaves Breakfast Show, where he expressed concern over the increasing influence of money in political party primaries, which he said continues to undermine internal democracy and public confidence in the political process.
According to him, limiting the voting process to a small number of delegates makes party primaries vulnerable to manipulation through financial inducements. He argued that expanding the electoral college to include all card-bearing members would reduce the impact of money, make vote-buying more difficult, and promote fairness and transparency.
Commenting on the recent Ayawaso East parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Ayamaga criticised what he described as worrying scenes that reflected deep-seated challenges associated with monetisation in party politics. He called on political parties to take firm and decisive measures to curb such practices, warning that failure to do so could weaken democratic institutions.
The NPP Upper East Communications Director also criticised President H.E. John Dramani Mahama over what he described as a failure to refer Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East, to the appropriate state investigative bodies following allegations that emerged during the primaries.
Hon. Ayamaga insisted that political leaders must demonstrate commitment to accountability and the rule of law, regardless of party affiliation, stressing that addressing allegations of misconduct decisively would help restore public trust in Ghana’s democratic system.
He concluded by urging all political parties to embrace reforms that strengthen internal democracy and discourage the use of money as a tool for political advancement, noting that credible primaries are essential to building a healthy and transparent democratic culture.
Source: BlueWaves Radio 93.7 FM | Maurice Duncan
