The usual allegations of vote-buying particularly during by-elections have resurfaced in the Kumawu by-election with the two major parties once again pointing accusing fingers at each other.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Kumawu constituency in the Ashanti Region, Kwasi Amankwaa, is accusing the governing NPP of vote buying in the ongoing by-election.
Mr Amankwaa claims he caught polling agents of the NPP at Anananya near Bodomase distributing GH¢50 notes to some electorates close to the voting center.
“There are instances where we saw, I think, one of the polling stations, Anananya, they had a table about 200 meters away from the polling station, dishing out GH¢50 notes to people and then escorting them to the ballot boxes, some pretending to be blind, some pretending to be insane. It is very pathetic,” he disclosed to JoyNews’ correspondent, Ohemeng Tawiah at Bodomase.
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But the parliamentary aspirant further indicated that he has reported the incident to the police and the Electoral Commission.
Nonetheless, he said he’s unfazed by the development because he’s confident it will have no bearing on the outcome of the polls as he’s sure of victory.
Some residents of Wonoo in Kumawu also accused NPP polling agents of vote buying.
According to them, some NPP officials are sharing GH¢20 and GH¢10 notes to electorates who voluntarily present their voter’s ID card to prove that they’re eligible to vote.
On the other hand, some residents have also accused the NDC of engaging in the same tactics.
“It is true that the NPP people are sharing money here but the NDC also did same yesterday [ and shared medicine, spraying machine,” a constituent alleged.
But in response to these allegations, the National Peace Council said it is yet to receive any tangible evidence of vote-buying.
The incumbent MP for the constituency, Philip Basoah, died on March 27 leaving the seat vacant.
He was buried on May 20, 2023, paving the way for the Electoral Commission to conduct the by-election.
The by-election, therefore, is being organised to find a replacement for the vacant parliamentary seat.
Four candidates are contesting for the position are: NPP’s Ernest Yaw Anim, who’s number one on the ballot paper.
The second candidate on the ballot paper is Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC, whereas the third and fourth candidates are independent candidates bearing the same name: Kwaku Duah.
According to the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Benjamin Bano-Bioo, voting will take place in 75 polling stations, and about 35,000 registered voters are expected to vote.
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