Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has condemned vote-buying, describing it as the root of systemic corruption that takes hold even before candidates assume public office.
His remarks come in the wake of allegations of vote-buying during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries held on February 7, in which Baba Jamal was accused of distributing 32-inch televisions to voters and boiled eggs to delegates after voting had begun. The alleged giveaways reportedly caused crowding and jostling among some voters.
Speaking on Monday, February 9, 2026, Ambassador Smith emphasized that offering money, gifts, or favors during elections should not be mistaken for generosity. Instead, he said, it is an “investment” intended to secure future returns, which lays the foundation for corrupt governance.
“When money or gifts are used to influence voters, we must call it what it truly is: corruption in its earliest form. It is not generosity. It is not kindness. It is an investment,” he stated.
He warned that candidates who engage in vote-buying often prioritize repaying campaign expenses and rewarding financiers over public service once in office, effectively turning the public purse into a personal reimbursement fund.
“Vote-buying does not merely distort elections; it manufactures corruption after elections. Fighting corruption only in government contracts while tolerating it at the ballot box is self-deception,” Ambassador Smith added.
The ambassador called for a national recognition that accepting inducements weakens accountability, while offering them erodes integrity. He urged politicians and voters alike to reject inducements and embrace a politics of conscience to protect Ghana’s democracy and promote honest leadership.
Referencing the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, Ambassador Smith cautioned that the open distribution of televisions, motorcycles, or cash to voters must be treated as corruption, and that law enforcement agencies should intervene when such acts occur.
“Elections should never be auctions,” he reminded, quoting Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
