Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has proposed a major reform to Ghana’s electoral practices, calling for political party primaries to be opened to the general public as a way to reduce vote buying and strengthen transparency in the country’s democratic processes.
Speaking during a recent public forum, Agyebeng argued that broadening participation in internal party primaries would make it financially unsustainable for candidates to engage in vote buying, as the cost of attempting to influence thousands of voters would be far higher than dealing with a small pool of party delegates.
“Why not allow everyone to show up to vote?” he said. “Whether a party member or a non-party member in this constituency—we are doing primaries here, come and vote. Then whether you can influence the number of people who come to vote for you, will tell by way of your bank account. You will go bust.”
The Special Prosecutor’s comments come amid ongoing concerns about vote buying, especially during internal political party contests. Critics have long argued that the current delegate-based system facilitates corruption and undermines democratic accountability.
Agyebeng also addressed legal ambiguity surrounding the definition of “public elections,” a key consideration in determining whether internal party contests fall under the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s mandate.
“We’re not going to wait for a proper definition of public elections before we go after vote buying and vote selling,” he said. “If you think internal party primaries are exempt, offer yourself up as a test case. We’ll try the law.”
He emphasized that his office is committed to applying the law even in grey areas, rather than standing back due to technical uncertainties. His remarks suggest the OSP will continue to investigate vote buying at all electoral levels unless clearly barred by the courts.
The Special Prosecutor went further to argue that the focus on anti-corruption enforcement should be extended to include student-level elections, such as Student Representative Council (SRC) contests, citing concerns about the normalization of vote buying from an early age.
“Even SRC elections in schools—this is not your home. You are not standing for elections in a domestic setting,” he said. “Let us make it unattractive and hugely costly, so that you will not attempt it.”
Agyebeng’s comments are expected to spark debate among political parties and legal professionals, especially those concerned with constitutional definitions and party autonomy. However, his office’s position appears clear: vote buying at any level is a threat to integrity, and inaction is not an option.
As Ghana prepares for upcoming internal party primaries and general elections, these proposals could shape the national conversation on electoral reform and political accountability.
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Source: KingBygone.com
