Anti -Corruption Campaigner, Mr P.C Appiah Ofori has urged the New Patriotic Party to bring to book those who paid bribes to influence delegates to vote for them during the Regional Elections.
The NPP held its regional delegates’ conference over the weekend to elect new executives.
It was alleged that some aspirants paid bribes to some delegates to influence votes.
A clear incident is when defeated aspiring Ashanti Region Chairman, Robert Asare Bediako cried over how he paid at least GH¢1,000 to each delegate on the election day to influence them but they still voted against him.
The defeated aspirant explained that but for the monetization before and during the elections, he would have won the election hands down but close contenders were the highest bidders.
After the election, the incumbent chairman Benard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, sailed through with 464 votes while his close contender Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, managed some 306 votes.
Asare Bediako, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi and Oheneba Kofi Adum Bawuah polled 22, 9 and 3 votes respectfully.
Meanwhile, Mr Asare Bediako, who lost the election, expressed worry over the increasing trend of monetization in the political spheres during elections.
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Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr P.C Appiah Ofori said paying bribes to delegates for votes was a corrupt practice and so all those who engaged in that, including those who received it must face the law.
“Corruption is defined as the abuse of office for personal gains, it is a criminal offense and so whoever engages in corruption has committed a crime and the law must deal with them,” he said.
He continued that, “If you want to be a Regional Chairman and you give people money and then when you become a Chairman, how would you recoup your money, it means that you will steal the country’s money to replace the money you lost.
If you have a position and you give people money to pay bribes, it means you will use dubious means to recoup your money and it is the party and all Ghanaians that will suffer this, and so whoever did that must not be spared, when it happens like that , you are giving impetus for corruption.”
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
