Civil Society groups condemn electoral law violations by political parties

Three prominent civil society organisations, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), and Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), have expressed grave concerns over what they describe as blatant violations of Ghana’s electoral laws by the two leading political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the groups condemned reports of vote buying and the distribution of food items and money to prospective voters, describing these acts as a direct breach of Sections 33 and 34 of the Representation of the People Law, 1992 (PNDCL 284). These laws prohibit offering or accepting money, food, or other inducements to influence voter behaviour.

“We have observed with grave concern the flagrant violation of electoral laws by representatives of both the NDC and NPP. These acts undermine the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability essential for free and fair elections,” the statement read.

Allegations of Electoral Corruption
The groups cited specific incidents, including reports of NDC’s Ernest Adomako allegedly distributing chickens, money, and rice in the Okaikoi South constituency. Similarly, NPP’s Lydia Alhassan was accused of distributing oil and rice to security guards in Ayawaso West Wuogon and providing food packs to voters during the special voting exercise.

“While these allegations require thorough investigation, they highlight worrying trends that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process,” the statement noted.

Call for Accountability
The civil society organizations called on law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the allegations and hold those found culpable accountable. “A swift and transparent investigation into the cases of vote buying and treating reported by the media will enhance confidence in Ghana’s electoral processes and democratic credentials,” they emphasized.

The groups also urged political parties and candidates to refrain from corrupt practices and publicly commit to ethical campaign standards. “Ghanaians are watching closely. Political actors must remember that ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands,’” they warned.

Appeal for Collective Action
Beyond political accountability, the organisations called on the media, faith-based institutions, and civil society to intensify voter education campaigns to raise awareness about the damaging effects of electoral corruption on democracy and stability.

“We urge all citizens to exercise their voting rights responsibly, reject inducements, and hold political actors accountable. Safeguarding the stability and development of our nation is a collective responsibility,” they stated.

Monitoring and Advocacy
The groups revealed they are conducting a large-scale monitoring exercise to track instances of vote buying, abuse of state resources, and campaign financing violations. According to them, the findings will inform future advocacy efforts aimed at reforming campaign and political financing in Ghana.