Civil society group OccupyGhana has intensified its push for legislative reform in Ghana’s political landscape, urging the government to criminalise vote buying in intra-party elections.
The call comes more than two years after the organisation first raised concerns in a letter dated October 9, 2023, addressed to key government officials, including the Attorney-General, the Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a follow-up communication sent this week, OccupyGhana warned that the increasing normalisation of vote buying in internal party elections poses a “grave and growing threat to democratic accountability, political integrity and equal participation.”
The group noted that while Ghanaian national elections are regulated under anti-corruption laws, the absence of explicit legal sanctions targeting intra-party vote buying has created a loophole that could compromise the integrity of the broader democratic system.
“Intra-party elections are decisive mechanisms through which candidates for public office are selected,” OccupyGhana said.
“When these processes are influenced by financial inducements or material incentives, merit and competence are displaced by monetary influence. This entrenches corruption at its earliest stages, compromises leadership selection, and inevitably erodes public trust in democratic institutions.”
OccupyGhana is advocating for legislative amendments that would not only define and criminalise vote buying within party primaries but also assign investigative and prosecutorial responsibility to the Office of the Special Prosecutor rather than the Attorney-General.
The organisation argued that prosecution by an independent body is essential to avoid conflicts of interest, given the political nature of such offences.
They further highlighted the OSP’s expertise in corruption-related cases, stressing that it is best positioned to ensure consistent enforcement and act as a deterrent against electoral malpractice.
The group’s 2023 letter, and the renewed appeal this week, signals growing concern from civil society over what they describe as a “steady erosion” of democratic principles from within political parties themselves.
OccupyGhana is calling on legislators and the government to implement strong policy measures and sanctions, accompanied by credible enforcement mechanisms, to restore public confidence in the political system.
The renewed appeal has been copied to key parliamentary figures, including the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, and Chief Whips, as well as the Electoral Commission and all media houses, emphasising the broad-based civil and institutional interest in the issue.
OccupyGhana concluded its letter by requesting updates on any steps taken or proposed by government authorities and sought guidance on how citizens and civil society organisations can support efforts toward effective reform.
The organisation framed the campaign as part of a broader mission to protect democratic integrity and promote accountability within the constitutional democracy.
