Democracy Is Not For Sale: Dambai residents demand greater accountability, sensitisation to tackle vote-buying

Participants at a public forum in Dambai in the Oti Region have called for increased public education on vote-buying and urged politicians to end the monetisation of votes during elections.

They also want political parties and elected officials to fulfil promises made to the people of the Oti Region, stressing the need for greater accountability and commitment to development.

The call was made during JoyNews' Democracy Is Not For Sale programme held at the Dambai College of Education, where students, residents and other stakeholders discussed the effects of vote buying on Ghana’s democratic process.

Contributors at the forum said more public education was needed to help voters understand the long-term consequences of exchanging their votes for money and other material benefits.

They argued that the practice undermines the integrity of elections and shifts attention from issues such as development, good governance and the ability of political candidates to serve their communities.

Some participants urged political parties and aspirants to stop using money and other incentives to influence voters, insisting that electoral support should be based on policies, competence and the commitment of candidates to national and local development.

The audience also called on politicians to honour promises made during election campaigns, particularly commitments to address the development needs of communities in the Oti Region.

They stressed that residents should not be left with unfulfilled promises after elections, urging elected representatives to remain accessible and accountable to the people they serve.

Persons with disabilities who participated in the programme also called for greater inclusion in the distribution of national resources and development opportunities.

They emphasised the need for their concerns to be recognised in government policies and development programmes to ensure that they benefit from the country's resources and are not left behind.

The discussions also highlighted the responsibility of citizens in protecting the democratic process, with participants encouraged to reject financial inducements and demand transparency from political leaders.

The forum forms part of broader efforts to promote electoral integrity and encourage citizens to recognise their role in strengthening Ghana’s democracy.