The credibility of the just-ended Council of State election in the Volta Region has been called into question, following explosive allegations of vote buying and political interference. One of the aspirants, Dr. David Kofi Wuaku, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regional executives of orchestrating a scheme to ensure the victory of their preferred candidate, effectively shutting out competitors.
Dr. Wuaku, who had hoped for a fair contest, described the election as a staged process that lacked transparency and credibility. He alleged that secret meetings were held at night with delegates, where information was selectively shared to influence votes in favor of a chosen candidate.
“Third-party executive meeting delegates in the night. I went there, now closed-door party. Some boys called the third-party organizers prevented a candidate from having access to the information you are giving to delegates. What is that?” Dr. Wuaku questioned.
According to him, attempts to seek intervention from security authorities only revealed deeper inconsistencies. He recounted how the regional police command reached out to a government minister for clarity, yet the minister gave conflicting responses at different times.
“When the police command called the minister, he said a different thing. When I met him, he said a different thing. Why should we call this an election? This is not an election,” he lamented.
The most shocking twist in this unfolding controversy came when NDC Regional Secretary, Bright Egeh, openly admitted that the party executives had a personal stake in the election.
“Yes, the executives have an interest, and we are doing everything possible to make our candidate win,” Egeh confirmed.
This revelation has sparked widespread concerns about political bias and manipulation in an election meant to be a neutral process for selecting an advisory representative to the presidency. Critics argue that the Council of State should not be reduced to a battleground for party politics, as it compromises its intended role of providing independent counsel to the government.
Dr. Wuaku is now urging traditional leaders, assembly members, and the people of the Volta Region to take action and hold their representatives accountable for decisions that, in his view, undermine democracy.
“I am calling on you to hold your representatives responsible for this kind of decision to send our region back,” he said.
Despite the disappointment, he remains committed to his vision of national development and insists that only the right leadership can bring true progress.
“I will work hard to develop Ghana. I will develop Ghana. I will showcase my works to Ghanaians, and everybody will see that when you elect the right person, you have the right people. But when you elect the wrong people, everybody will suffer.”
The controversy surrounding this election has reignited debates on electoral integrity in Ghana. With calls for an independent review of the process growing louder, the question remains: Will authorities take action, or will this be another case of political influence overshadowing democratic principles?
