Pressure group Occupy Ghana has claimed intra-party vote-buying is not a criminal offence in Ghana.
According to Occupy Ghana, vote buying in public elections is a crime, but it is not a crime when done within a political party.
In a Facebook post in reaction to the brouhaha surrounding the NDC Ayawaso East primary, Kojo Anan Ankomah wrote, “The reality is that although vote-buying is a crime in public elections, it is not a crime in intra-party elections. OccupyGhana, as usual, called for it. We wrote to the relevant people who had the power to introduce just a small amendment into the law to fix this.
As usual, the two parties ignored us. So the intra-party vote buying has escalated to the level where the perpetrators are not even embarrassed to admit it publicly. It is no crime. Maybe now, they will listen”.
However, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched investigations into alleged vote-buying during the NPP’s Presidential primaries and the NDC’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primary.
The OSP, in a statement, stated, “The Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP) has commenced an investigation in respect of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries conducted on 31 January 2026.
On 7 February 2026. The OSP commenced a real-time investigation in respect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries at the Ayawaso East constituency
The investigations focus on allegations of vote buying, vote selling, and the sources of funding of the alleged corrupt acts.
During the conduct of the NDC parliamentary primaries at the Avawaso East constituency on 7 February 2026, one of the candidates – Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed – allegedly abetted thugs to physically attack an officer of the OSP, who was serving an investigative directive on him in relation to vote buying and vote selling.
Consequently, the OSP has opened further investigation into the assault of an authorised officer of the OSP in the performance of his functions in relation to Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed.
The OSP reminds the public that the law prohibits corrupt acts in relation to public elections. It is a serious offence to engage in vote buying, vote selling, intimidation, threats of violence, and acts of violence in relation to elections”.
Meanwhile, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate cancellation of the just-ended Ayawaso East Constituency parliamentary primaries.
Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, in a statement issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, demanded the immediate cancellation of the primary and the disqualification of candidates found to have engaged in vote buying.
According to the Majority leader’s statement, any candidate found to have engaged in the alleged unethical conduct must be disqualified.
He further reaffirms the Majority’s commitment to restoring integrity in Ghana’s politics.
The majority statement issued read, “The Members of the Majority Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has become aware of the widely circulated allegations of vote buying in the just-concluded NDC parliamentary primary in the Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.
The Caucus wishes to strongly condemn these developments against the background of the agenda to reset the politics of this country.
After extensive deliberations on the matter, the core leadership, as well as the extended leadership of the caucus, has resolved to communicate to the Functional Executive Committee ofthe National Democratic Congress as follows.
That the primary of the NDC organised in the Ayawaso East Constituency be annulled immediately.
That any candidate who participated in the said primary and has been established to have engaged in this unethical conduct be banned from participating in the subsequent primary after annulment ofthe-eleetion.
The NDC Majority Caucus remains committed to restoring integrity to our politics”.
However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations of inducement and vote-buying.
According to the NDC statement, the committee is expected to submit its report on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
See the post below:
— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) February 8, 2026