NDC Primaries: Asawase delegates confess to receiving cash from candidates
Some delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Asawase Constituency have confessed to receiving money from candidates in exchange for votes in the party’s parliamentary primary.
They claim incumbent MP, Muntaka Mubarak and his contender, Masawudu Mubarik, are guilty of vote buying.
Though the electoral laws frown on the practice, delegates were excited upon receipt of the amount they term as transport allowance.
About 1,886 delegates were on the register for the Asawase primary.
Many delegates who were participating in such an election for the first time were excited, arriving early at the election venue.
Some arrived in groups, bussed to the location by their preferred candidates.
It was speculated the supporters bussed to the grounds by incumbent MP, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, received some cash in these buses.
This was vehemently disputed by the MP who rather accused his opponent of vote buying.
“He has never done any work all of a sudden he has money and he is distributing everywhere and you think the people of Asawase do not know the value of the work I have done”, he said.
The MP continued,” Since morning I am stepping out of my house for the first time so if they say somebody is paying money, try and find out who is paying money”.
Nonetheless, delegates who were excited at the contest witnessed at Asawase confessed to receiving what they call motivation in the form of cash from the candidates.
Mohammed, one delegate said, “You will find different envelopes on me, it doesn’t mean they are from aspirants. I am a businessman. In every election, we see a difference in the motivation level. All the candidates have given us envelopes and we thank God for that”.
Another delegate, Joseph claimed to have received more than ¢1500.
“I have seen the benefits that come with being a delegate. I have received some amounts from both sides. It should be above ¢1500,” he said.
This primary in the Asawase constituency will go down as one of the most exciting as delegates thank their stars for financial gains.
Article 33 of the Representation of the People Law deems sharing of money to induce voters as bribery which is an offence.
Source: Ghana News
