It took an unprecedented large scale electoral corruption to play out in a mere constituency primary for the anomaly to attract such public opprobrium.
Perhaps, this time, something with far-reaching outcomes will be thought out by Ghanaians. Who knows? Just maybe.
The Ayawaso East National Democratic Congress (NDC) primary in which Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed was declared winner is mired in expected controversy, and as its negative fallouts resonate loudly, the hypocrisy of the political class, especially those in power, cannot be overlooked.
Baba Jamal, although unreasonably dismissive about the electoral corruption, describing it as mere gifts, did what is consistent with the playbook of politics in the country; gifts for the voters done differently though by swearing on the Holy Quran.
The other contenders did same too, if only on different scales. From motorbikes to cash and assortment of stuff, the gifts, as Baba Jamal described them, flowed.
The recipients did not find anything untoward about the gifts, and so could pose before the bounties for the cameras.
For us, the Majority in Parliament’s condemnation and a call for the annulment of the process represent the apogee of hypocrisy. How many members of that honourable house can cast the first stone as to whether or not they did not engage in vote-inducing practices?
Let us be fair when dealing with such matters which have widespread implications on electoral integrity.
Politicians who are hypocritical in their dealings constitute likely candidates for corruption, and these are persons pushing Baba Jamal under the bus.
Baba Jamal once said it without mincing words that in politics, it is not out of place to label a sheep a bull and vice versa. That, for him and many others, is the order of the game of politics.
The foregoing is the label for politics in the thinking of most politicians, hence the difficulties in fighting and eliminating corruption on the political landscape.
We noticed the speed with which Baba Jamal was recalled from his duty post in Abuja; such a populist action cannot move the astute and objective political observer of the nuances of local politics.
This is the time for the country to take another look at state funding of political parties under strict conditions as a means to stemming vote-buying.
Politics is a serious occupation and, when not plied right, will obviously strike the wrong chord, the implications of which are anything but positive.
Many military adventurists in our part of the world were encouraged by the dirty deals of political actors to take over the throttles. Such adventurists are hailed when in their maiden broadcasts they point at the political faux pas of their deposed Commanders-in-Chief which informed their unacceptable interventions. They too, if they stay on for too long, soon fall foul of the standards of political moralities.
As we compose this commentary, the report from the committee set up to probe the corruption-laden primary is being expected.
Allowing the status quo to play out would only push political actors to be discrete in their vote-inducing gifts in future and not eliminate it. Annulling it on the other hand will expose the hypocrisy of the leadership of the party and create unhealable rifts in the party. Which way therefore to go? A national conversation on stemming vote-buying is appropriate.
Is the subtle support by the establishment for the female candidate as being touted going to have an impact on the political fate of Baba Jamal?
Politics is a sophisticated occupation demanding subtlety. In our part of the world where material and intellectual poverties are features of society, corruption will persist for a long time to come, especially when the educated class deny positive changes to take place.