A delegate holding a gas cooker with a picture of aspirant boldly embossed
Massive vote-buying characterized the election of Hannah Bissiw and George Opare Addo, aka Pablo, as National Women and Youth Organizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) respectively at Gomoa Feteh in the Central Region on Saturday, October 27, 2018.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that NDC delegates openly ‘offered their conscience’ for sale to the aspirants in return for items such as sewing machines, flat screen television sets, motorbikes, as well as cash.
According to reports, some delegates were given $500 each to elect executives to restore integrity to the NDC.
A presidential hopeful of the party, Goosie Tanoh, yesterday raised concern about the level of ‘moneycracy’ in the NDC especially in the polls to elect youth and women organizers on Saturday, describing it as reprehensible.
He said selling the party to the highest bidder would rob the NDC of competent candidates going forward.
Founder of the NDC, ex-President Jerry John Rawlings has in recent times been advising the party’s delegates against allowing themselves to be ‘bought’ by ‘greedy and corrupt’ elements within the NDC who would go after their votes.
But it appears the NDC members are not heeding the call of Mr Rawlings to restore integrity in the NDC.
According to reports, some candidates baited the delegates with items such as sandals, tricycles, with some aspirants sending money through mobile money to delegates.
Hannah Bissiw, a former Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture under erstwhile Mahama administration, was elected as the Women’s Organizer of the party after defeating Hajia Zaynab Mahama, who was the incumbent, as well as Hajia Tawa Zakari and Margaret Chiravina.
The Deputy Women Organizers were Maame Effua and Abigail Elorm while George Opare Addo defeated two other contestants, Yaw Brogya Gyemfi and Wonder Madilo.
‘Cocoa Season’
Some of the delegates were said to have stated that “today is our cocoa season. We won’t see them again. We have to take what is due us. They have money to share.”
Mr. Rawlings, in a recent statement, said “the party was formed through the selfless sacrifices and integrity of gallant young men and women of this country. Women and the youth were the backbone of this history and still remain pivotal in shaping the future and destiny of our country.”
The NDC founder decried the monetization of elections in the party and appealed to all NDC young delegates not to allow their conscience to be bought with ‘goodies’ from aspirants.
By Melvin Tarlue