By One of the thirteen candidates for the just-ended Council of State election in the Volta Region, Dr David Kofi Wuaku has expressed deep disappointment about the process, alleging vote-buying and undue influence by some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr Wuaku, who had high hopes of winning the election, criticized what he described as a deliberate attempt by NDC executives to manipulate the outcome in favor of a single candidate. He accused party officials of obstructing fair access to delegates and conducting secret meetings to influence the voting process.
“Third-party executives were meeting delegates at night. I went there, but the closed-door meeting was happening. Some boys, called by the third-party organisers, prevented a candidate from accessing the information you are giving to delegates. What is that?” Dr Wuaku lamented after the election held in Ho on Tuesday, February 11.
His concerns were further heightened when the regional police command became involved. According to him, the police called a minister of state for clarification, but the minister allegedly provided conflicting accounts.
“When the police command called the minister, he said one thing. When I met him, he said something completely different. Why should we call this an election? This is not an election,” he declared. Dr Wuaku claimed that NDC executives openly admitted to having a vested interest in the election outcome, an admission that, in his view, undermines the credibility of the entire process.
“They clearly told me personally that they have an interest. What interest do they have that is not the interest of the Volta Region, the region’s chiefs, the region’s stakeholders, and all the assemblies?” he questioned. He further called on traditional rulers, local assemblies, and the general public to hold their representatives accountable for decisions that, in his words, could push the region backwards.
“I am calling on you to hold your representatives responsible for this kind of decision, which will send our region backwards,” he urged. Dr Wuaku vowed to continue his efforts toward national development, emphasizing his commitment to proving that competent leadership can transform the country.
I will work hard to develop Ghana. I will develop Ghana. I will showcase my work to Ghanaians, and everyone will see that when you elect the right person, you get the right results. But when you elect the wrong people into office, everyone suffers.
Meanwhile, NDC’s Volta Regional Secretary Bright Egeh confirmed that the party executives did indeed have an interest in a particular candidate and were working to ensure his victory. This revelation raises serious concerns about the transparency of the elections and the extent to which party influence can compromise democratic processes.
It remains to be seen whether the Electoral Commission or other relevant authorities will investigate these claims. At the end of the polls, a businessman, Gabriel Kwamigah Tanko Atokple emerged as the winner of the election.
