NPP primaries: Ghana’s democracy is under threat – Dr Amoako Baah
A founding member of the ruling New Patriotic Party Dr. Richard Amoako Baah has stated that Ghana’s budding democracy is currently under attack as far as the internally run elections by the political parties are concerned.
According to the former lecturer at the Political Science department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the success chalked so far by our democracy seems to be wrinkled steadily by apparent widespread of bribery and corruption during the parties internal elections.
The maverick NPP stalwart believes sections 45 and 51 of the 1992 constitution boldly spell out the electoral commission’s mandatory functions of supervising every elections in the country hence the need to expand the electoral college of all the political parties to forestall bribery scandals haunting primaries elections.
Dr. Richard Amoako Baah made the observation on Tuesday 23RD June, 2020 on accusations of bribery and corruption on the aftermath of the NPP primaries during an interview on OTECFM’s NYANSAPO morning show hosted by Captain Koda where close to forty incumbent Member of Party were defeated over weekend.
The ruling New Patriotic Party on 20TH June 2020 held a nationwide internal primaries where forty sitting Member of Parliaments lost their seats after widespread allegations of bribery and corruption.
At Atwima Kwanwoma constituency the defeated incumbent Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Kwadwo Appiah Kubi chased delegates for his cash while Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, the victor in the Anyaa Sowutuom parliamentary race revealed that he spent more than GH¢1 million in cash on his delegates
He insisted,” our democracy is destroyed; votes buying are taking precedent of our internal primaries. Aspirants are paying bribes while delegates bargain before they vote for a candidate. During our national elections at Koforidua last two years, delegates were enthused by my message but they told me I have to pay money.
The situation would kick knowledgeable but needy aspirants from our body politics and we must guard against this practice. We must learn to expand our the electoral colleges of the party as being done by the United States because they are the pacesetters of our democracy to help end the ‘monetization’ practice.”
Dr. Richard Amoako Baah however refuted claims by some of NPP bigwigs that the party stands the chance to lose debate in the House looking at the big guns who are defeated adding that parliamentary proceedings do not demand special skills or knowledge because they are learned on the job.
He questioned the parliamentary acumen of the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye before becoming the leader of the House in January 2017 insisting that the house need to have the experience of energetic young Members to bring new ideas to bear during debates.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
