‘A politician is not an NGO’ – Inusah Fuseini on the cost of seeking office

Former NDC MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, warned that politicians who spend heavily to win office expect to recoup their money, fuelling corruption nationwide. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, he linked the rising cost of political contests to corruption and the exclusion of capable people from public life. “A politician is not an NGO, and so when people spend that amount of money, they expect to recoup that, and that fuels corruption on a national scale.” His warning comes amid reports of widespread alleged vote-buying during the NDC’s latest internal executive elections.

The controversy has raised questions about the cost of competing and the party’s ability to punish inducement. For Mr Fuseini, the consequences reach beyond the outcome of any single contest. Financial demands are determining who can enter politics and who must stay away. “Those heavily impacted by what is happening are women and the youth because they might not have the required resources to be able to do that,” he said.

He said people with integrity and reputations for service were also shying away from politics because they could not afford the sums involved. “Politics is not Father Christmas,” he said. Mr Fuseini said efforts to address inducement had exposed a gap in the NDC’s constitution. His committee recognised the need for sanctions after acknowledging that inducement had occurred during the elections.

But it also found that “there was no legal mechanism in our constitution to deal with that”. He explained that the party needed rules that define the misconduct and identify the bodies authorised to handle complaints. Without those provisions, disciplinary action could face challenges. “So we need a framework.” The committee is also examining where legitimate assistance ends and inducement begins.

“How much money can we say is appropriate in the circumstances?” he asked. “If somebody gives a delegate GH¢200, is it an inducement or what is it?” He questioned how the party should treat payments described as transport support when they exceed reasonable travel costs. Proposals under consideration include empowering constituency councils of elders to handle cases or referring offenders to the national headquarters.

Mr Fuseini said the recommendations would undergo further scrutiny before being presented to a special congress for constitutional amendment.