Linda Ocloo Under Fire For Controversial Vote-Buying Comments: “You Have to Give Them the T&T”
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has been the target of intense criticism after she downplayed vote-buying during the Ablekuma North election.
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Ocloo downplayed the concerns about the integrity of the polls from the New Patriotic Party because of the favours being offered.
Source: Twitter
She used the excuse of offering transportation to people who can’t come and vote
"This is not news. Every election, there is vote buying. If they are buying votes, they should also buy the votes."
“People have to come and vote, so if such people come, you have to give them the T&T to go and vote. I do not think that is vote buying. If you think that is vote buying, you can also go and buy their vote, it’s as simple as that."
She also said she had offered money to people who came to vote from afar.
Ocloo justified this by arguing that people who took up the offer were likely to be National Democratic Congress supporters.
In a further message online later on, she doubled down on her assertions.
"Giving out transport for citizens to go and cast ballots at their respective polling stations is not vote buying."
Kirani Abdul, for example, stressed that buying of votes undermines our democracy and is terrible hearing it from the minister.
Towfiq Hamidu said Ocloo was a disappointment because of her comments.
"Sometimes i’m like what at all did we do to deserve this?? A public figure a lot of young lads look up to you... We've got a long way to go."
Another commenter, Frank Akwetey, called for a better practice of governance in Ghana.
"Madam regional minister please do better. Let’s elevate our politics if we want a reset. What is reset if it doesn’t take away bribery in elections?"
What does the law say about bribery during elections?
Section 33 of the Representation of Peoples Law 1992 notes that a person commits the offence of bribery if he directly or indirectly acts through another person and gives money, makes a gift, or obtains an office for a voter to induce the voter to vote or refrain from voting.
Source: YEN.com.gh
