Exposed! Massive Bleeding of Public Funds During NPP Primaries

Corruption Watch, the not-for-profit corruption watchdog has exposed massive use of public funds to buy votes during the parliamentary primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The group funded by Star-Ghana which draws funding from major international institutional funders found several appointees who contested in the parliamentary primaries that ended a few weeks ago, splashing state funds on NPP delegates in one of the most blatant vote-buying spree of the governing party.

Key culprits exposed by Corruption Watch include the Deputy MASLOC CEO, Hajia Abibata Shani Mahama Zakaria who “used state resources for her personal gain just as other candidates were also captured by Corruption Watch inducing delegates with money, machinery and appliances in seven regions monitored by Corruption Watch,” Corruption Watch stated on its website.

She was contesting against Alhaji Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama, deputy procurement officer at COCOBOD and the son of former Vice President Aliu Mahama. Corruption Watch said it uncovered a trend that started since 2017, when Mr. Aliu Mahama annually distributes as much as 1000 bags of sugar, 800 bags, several weedicides and cash annually to NPP delegates in the Yendi Constituency to prepare them for his parliamentary bid.

Corruption Watch’s report read. “On 13th June 2020, Mr. Mahama distributed 400 knapsacks, 2400 bottles of weedicides, 600 cutlasses, 400 bottles of anti-snake sprays and 800 bags of fertilizers to delegates in the Yendi Constituency. When CW contacted him for his response, Mr. Aliu Mahama said he was not feeling well so he would speak on a different occasion. As at the time of filing this report, CW had not received his response.”

Also, in the Kwesimintsim Constituency of the Western Region, both incumbent MP, Joseph Mensah and his contender Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, who is the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), were outed for vote-buying. Dr. Armah allegedly paid GHC 1,500 to each of 200 delegates causing him to win the race by some 222 votes of the 389 total votes.

Apparently, the incumbent’s bribe (GHC 1,000 each to 200 delegates) paled in comparison to the contender. “Incumbent Joseph Mensah, who polled 167 votes, is also accused of paying GH₵ 1,000 to each of them about 200 delegates a night before the election at his home in Anaji Mount Zion. In addition to the money, he is alleged to have also given a half piece of cloth (six yards) to each female delegate and two brand new singlets to each male delegate,” the report from Corruption Watch read.

In the Effia Constituency of the same Western Region,  the Deputy Minister of Energy Joseph Cudjoe  reportedly gave hefty bribes to delegates in what secured him a win at the constituency.

“Mr. Cudjoe, who won the polls with 312 votes, allegedly gave about 300 delegates a standing fan and a half piece of cloth (six yards) each at his residence a week before the primaries. In addition, on the eve and day of the election, he allegedly camped about 300 delegates and gave each person GH₵ 1,500 and a 32-inch flat-screen Hisense television. Besides these, Mr. Cudjoe in keeping to an alleged promise to pay to delegates whatever amount his opponent gave them, held a meeting with the delegates in the afternoon of the day after the elections and gave GH₵ 400 cedis to each delegate,” states Corruption Watch.

The Deputy Energy Minister won against, Dr. Adwoa Kwagyirba, a Lecturer at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU), who only managed to pay GH₵ 400 and a 32-inch television to each delegate a day before the election.

These are just a few of a trend that reportedly run rampant during the ruling party’s parliamentary primaries. Some of the items distributed are men’s’ singlets, Maggi seasoning cubes, refrigerators, etc. and loads of cash.