A Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to redirect its attention towards investigating the source of the funds used by public officials during elections, rather than pursuing individuals suspected of vote-buying.
This call follows the OSP’s recent manhunt for six individuals allegedly involved in vote-buying at the just concluded New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries in orphan constituencies.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr Gbande expressed the view that delegates receiving money from candidates is not the problem
He rather emphasised the need for the OSP to scrutinise public officials who distribute funds during elections to determine whether the money originates from the national purse or other sources.
“We should ask people who are serving the public, whether or not your salary or your allowances are enough to afford you that kind of money that you share.
“So, instead of the OSP, dancing around the fire and going after individuals who are excited because they’ve received money from an aspirant, the OSP should go after the giver who is a public servant,” he said on Tuesday.
Highlighting the hard work of party delegates, Gbande defended the practice of receiving funds during primaries, considering it as a form of compensation for their dedication to the party.
He argued that during the infrequent party congresses and primaries, party members receive motivation and support from candidates.
“We cannot criminalise them for receiving gifts from politicians, as it is a normal part of the political process,” he told the host, Evans Mensah.
[embedded content]The Deputy General Secretary further urged the OSP to inquire into the financial activities of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and other public appointees who distributed huge sums of money during the NPP primaries.
“Once the giver is a public officer, an appointee of government, then he can be subjected to some level of scrutiny. But if a private individual says, ‘I have $1 million and I want to share’, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, also a guest on the show, called for a review of the law to facilitate the Special Prosecutor’s prosecution of individuals engaged in vote-buying activities.
Mr Domelevo dismissed claims by politicians that such funds were for transportation, asserting that these were nothing but attempts to influence and buy votes.
“They [Politicians] can call it whatever they want. But we are not idiots, we know these are monies to influence and buy votes. We’re practicing auctions, not elections,” Domelevo categorically stated.
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