Inusah Fuseini says NDC lacks rules to punish electoral inducement

Inusah Fuseini, the former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, has warned that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks a clear constitutional framework to penalise electoral inducement. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, the former lawmaker highlighted that the absence of defined disciplinary procedures hampers the party’s ability to sanction offenders. He noted that while there have been reports of vote-buying in recent constituency elections, including the distribution of cash and household appliances to delegates, the party currently has no formal procedure for handling such complaints, leaving decisions to the discretion of party executives.

Mr Fuseini expressed deep concern over the escalating financial demands of seeking political office in Ghana, arguing that the trend is fueling national corruption. He remarked that "a politician is not an NGO," explaining that candidates who spend heavily to secure internal party positions are often driven to recoup their investments once they attain public office. This high cost of entry, he warned, is effectively pricing out individuals of integrity and creating significant barriers for women and youth who may be competent but lack the financial resources to compete with wealthier rivals.

To address these systemic issues, the NDC's constitutional review committee is currently developing proposals to distinguish between legitimate support and illegal bribery. Mr Fuseini indicated that the committee is focused on establishing clear guidelines for acceptable payments, such as transportation allowances, while outlining a formal framework for investigating misconduct. These recommendations are expected to be presented at an upcoming special congress for constitutional amendment as the party seeks to formalise its internal disciplinary processes and protect the integrity of its democratic structures.