Karachi East National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Officer, Peter Nlipah, has appealed to voters to reduce the financial demands they make on political aspirants, warning that excessive expectations during elections could undermine the delivery of development projects.
He says the growing expectation that politicians must offer money and other material incentives before securing electoral support places an unnecessary financial burden on candidates and could affect their ability to fulfil campaign promises once elected.
Speaking at the ‘Democracy Is Not For Sale’ programme held at the Dambai College of Education in the Oti Region, Mr Nlipah acknowledged that vote buying remains a major reality in Ghana’s electoral process, with some voters openly demanding money from individuals seeking political office.
He explained that candidates who approach electorates to solicit their support are often confronted with demands for financial assistance, with some voters insisting that they must receive something in return for their votes.
According to him, the situation has become a challenge for political aspirants, who are sometimes compelled to meet these demands to improve their chances of securing electoral support.
Mr Nlipah observed that money which could have been invested in community development projects is often diverted to satisfy the financial expectations of voters during election campaigns.
He warned that this practice creates difficulties for politicians after they assume office, as the resources required to implement their campaign promises may have already been exhausted in the process of securing votes.
He said the situation could contribute to the failure of elected representatives to deliver on some of the development commitments they make to their constituents.
“It is true that vote buying is a reality in this country. When you go to the electorates to demand their support, when you are aspiring for a position, normally they demand money. They will tell you, ‘We will take something from you’,” he said.
He further explained that the financial demands often extend to delegates during internal party elections, putting additional pressure on aspirants to spend money that should ideally support development initiatives.
Mr Nlipah, however, stressed that voters also have a responsibility to help address the practice by reconsidering the financial expectations they place on political candidates.
He appealed to electorates not to make excessive demands on politicians, arguing that the more money candidates are compelled to spend to secure votes, the less financial capacity they may have to execute projects after winning political office.
“We want to just plead that electorates shouldn’t demand so much from politicians. The more you demand from them, the higher their inability to be able to discharge their promises,” he cautioned.
He maintained that addressing vote buying requires a change in attitude among both political actors and the electorate, urging citizens to prioritise competence, accountability and the ability of candidates to deliver over immediate financial benefits.
The Democracy Is Not For Sale forum brought together residents, students and other stakeholders in Dambai to examine the practice of vote buying, its implications for democratic governance and the role citizens must play in protecting the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.