NDC constitution lacks mechanism to punish electoral inducement – Inusah Fuseini

Former Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks a clear constitutional mechanism to punish electoral inducement, leaving disciplinary action open to challenge. He told Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday that the gap limits the party leadership’s authority to sanction offenders. Proposed constitutional amendments would define the misconduct and establish who should handle cases.

His comments come amid allegations of widespread vote-buying during the NDC’s recent constituency executive elections. Reports alleged that delegates were given cash and household appliances. The party has said it will investigate credible evidence but maintains that no incidents have been formally established. Mr Fuseini said his committee recognised the need to punish those involved after acknowledging that inducement had occurred.

But it also found “there was no legal mechanism in our constitution to deal with that”. That left the party’s executives to decide how to proceed. He explained that the constitution did not expressly empower the Functional Executive Committee (FEC), National Executive Committee or Council of Elders to address such cases. Disciplinary action would therefore risk a challenge if the rules did not define the conduct as an offence.

“So we need a framework,” he said. One proposal under consideration would give constituency councils of elders authority to handle complaints locally. Another would refer offenders to the national headquarters, where the Functional Executive Committee would act. The committee is also examining how to distinguish legitimate support for delegates from inducement.

“How much money can we say is appropriate in the circumstances?” he asked. Mr Fuseini questioned how the party should treat payments described as transport allowances when the amounts exceed reasonable travel costs. He said the party would further scrutinise the proposals before presenting them to a special congress for constitutional amendment. “It’s a work in progress,” he said.

Beyond disciplinary rules, Fuseini warned that rising political costs were excluding women, young people and potential candidates with integrity. Some lack the resources to compete. Others withdraw because they cannot afford the demands of money-driven contests. He also linked excessive campaign spending to corruption. “A politician is not an NGO,” he said.

He argued that candidates who spend heavily expect to recoup their investment, adding that “that fuels corruption on a national scale”.